A man who contaminated candy with sleeping medication and provided them to minors at a youth camp in the area has confessed to sexual offenses against two children both nine and ten years old.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight minors and an older person fell ill at the location in July.
The elderly man, from that region, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at the courthouse on the end of the week.
Yet, he disputed a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was involving a young boy.
Ruben was kept in jail before a further hearing on 28 November.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, detailed the criminal behavior to the judicial body.
She explained his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a summer camp which he ran.
The defendant engaged in a "candy game" with the children, the prosecutor stated, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were preparing to sleep and request they to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings the man had engaged in this activity with the children "repeatedly", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She explained the defendant had been able to explain this repeatedly as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had suspicions in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "In the summer" his family member had concerns about the situation, for good reason.
"They chose" to examine in the individual's items."
The legal counsel explained objects including lubricant, ointment and medical needles were located, and his stepchild contacted the police about his concerns.
She said the defendant continued to engage in the "candy game" with six boys that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the next day.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that stage," she added.
The oversight body, the investigative body, earlier informed that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
Mrs Prior explained the children were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson called the authorities again.
She said the defendant then engaged in the "treat game" in a room of five minors.
