A person who contaminated candy with sedative and distributed them to children at a summer camp in the area has admitted sexual offenses against two children aged between nine and ten.
The accused was arrested after eight children and a grown-up fell ill at Stathern Lodge in July.
The 76-year-old, from that region, admitted guilt to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
Yet, he denied one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was against a young boy.
Ruben was remanded in custody prior to a further hearing on late November.
'Sweet game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, detailed the criminal behavior to the court.
She said his targets were under-privileged children who were attending a summer program which he managed.
The man conducted a "candy game" with the minors, the prosecutor stated, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were settling down and ask them to consume candy "rapidly".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had played this game with the young males "for many years", and children had earlier experienced illness the following morning.
She explained the defendant had been capable of justifying this for many years as the youngsters being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had worries in summer 2025.
The prosecutor added: "In the summer" his family member had worries about the situation, justifiably.
"They decided to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
Mrs Prior KC stated items including lubricant, petroleum jelly and medical needles were discovered, and his family member notified the law enforcement about his worries.
She stated Ruben went on to play the "sweet game" with six boys that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"The police had not responded by that stage," she continued.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
The prosecutor explained the children were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson notified the authorities again.
She said Ruben then played the "sweet game" in a room of five children.
