A person who contaminated candy with sedative and gave them to children at a youth camp in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two young males aged nine and 10.
The defendant was detained after eight youngsters and a grown-up fell ill at the location in July.
The senior citizen, from that region, admitted guilt to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
Yet, he denied one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was against a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was kept in jail before a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, detailed Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She said his those affected were disadvantaged youngsters who were staying at a summer program which he operated.
Ruben played a "candy game" with the minors, the prosecutor stated, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were settling down and request they to consume candy "rapidly".
She informed the proceedings the man had engaged in this activity with the young males "over an extended period", and children had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She stated the man had been capable of justifying this for many years as the youngsters being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had worries in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "This year his stepchild had suspicions about the situation, with valid cause.
"They resolved" to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
Mrs Prior KC stated items including baby oil, Vaseline and medical needles were located, and his stepchild alerted the authorities about his worries.
She explained the defendant continued to engage in the "candy game" with six youngsters that time - that Saturday - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that time," she added.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was investigating the police response of the situation.
The prosecutor said the minors were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so the stepson called the police once more.
She stated the defendant then played the "treat game" in a room of five children.
