A man who laced sweets with sedative and gave them to minors at a youth camp in the region has admitted sexual offenses against two young males who were between nine and ten.
The accused was taken into custody after eight children and a grown-up fell ill at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from that region, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
Nevertheless, he denied one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was against a young boy.
The defendant was kept in jail ahead of a further hearing on November 28th.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, presenting evidence, described the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She said his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a summer program which he ran.
The defendant conducted a "treat game" with the children, the prosecutor said, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and tell them to ingest treats "as fast as possible".
She told the court Ruben had engaged in this activity with the boys "over an extended period", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the next day.
She said the defendant had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the youngsters being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had concerns in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "In the summer" his family member had suspicions about the activities, with valid cause.
"They resolved" to investigate in the individual's items."
The legal counsel explained items including baby oil, petroleum jelly and injection devices were discovered, and his family member contacted the police about his suspicions.
She stated the defendant proceeded to conduct the "treat game" with six children that time - that Saturday - and they were everyone unwell the next day.
"The police had not gone out by that point," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the events.
The prosecutor said the children were struggling to walk due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson called the police once more.
She said the man then engaged in the "candy game" in a area of five minors.
