An individual who contaminated candy with sedative and provided them to minors at a youth camp in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two boys both nine and ten years old.
The accused was arrested after eight youngsters and an older person experienced illness at Stathern Lodge in July.
The elderly man, from that region, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
However, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
The accused was kept in jail ahead of a further hearing on late November.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, described Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She said his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a summer program which he ran.
The defendant engaged in a "candy game" with the youngsters, the prosecutor said, in which he would enter the sleeping quarters when they were getting ready for bed and request they to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She told the court Ruben had played this game with the children "over an extended period", and minors had previously fallen ill the next day.
She stated Ruben had been able to explain this repeatedly as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had concerns in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC added: "In the summer" his stepson had suspicions about the activities, with valid cause.
"They resolved" to examine in the individual's items."
The prosecutor stated items including lubricant, Vaseline and medical needles were found, and his stepchild contacted the authorities about his worries.
She said Ruben proceeded to play the "treat game" with six youngsters that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the next day.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that time," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was reviewing the police response of the situation.
The legal representative said the youngsters were struggling to walk due to being ill, so the stepson contacted the authorities again.
She stated Ruben then engaged in the "treat game" in a area of five minors.
