An individual who laced sweets with sleeping medication and provided them to children at a summer program in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two children both between nine and ten.
The accused was arrested after eight youngsters and a grown-up became sick at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from that region, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
Yet, he denied a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was against a young boy.
The accused was held in detention before a subsequent court date on 28 November.
'Candy game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, detailed Ruben's offending to the court.
She explained his targets were under-privileged children who were attending a youth camp which he ran.
Ruben played a "candy game" with the minors, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings the man had engaged in this activity with the boys "repeatedly", and children had earlier experienced illness the following morning.
She explained Ruben had been capable of justifying this for many years as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had concerns in July 2025.
The prosecutor added: "In the summer" his stepchild had concerns about the activities, with valid cause.
"They decided to examine in the defendant's belongings."
Mrs Prior KC explained objects including lubricant, Vaseline and syringes were located, and his stepson contacted the law enforcement about his worries.
She said the man proceeded to play the "treat game" with six children that night - that Saturday - and they were everyone unwell the next day.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that stage," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, had stated that it was examining the police response of the events.
The prosecutor said the youngsters were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson contacted the authorities again.
She explained the defendant then played the "sweet game" in a area of five youngsters.
