An individual who spiked treats with sedative and provided them to minors at a summer program in the area has admitted sexual crimes against two young males aged nine and 10.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight children and a grown-up became sick at the location in July.
The senior citizen, from that region, admitted guilt to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
Yet, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
The defendant was held in detention prior to a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Sweet game'
The legal representative, presenting evidence, described the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She stated his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a youth camp which he ran.
The defendant conducted a "candy game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel said, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to ingest treats "rapidly".
She stated to the judge the man had conducted this practice with the young males "over an extended period", and minors had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She said Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had concerns in July 2025.
The prosecutor stated further: "Recently" his stepchild had concerns about the activities, justifiably.
"They chose" to investigate in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC said objects including lubricant, petroleum jelly and medical needles were located, and his family member contacted the authorities about his worries.
She said Ruben continued to conduct the "treat game" with six boys that time - that Saturday - and they were all ill the next day.
"The police had not arrived by that point," she continued.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was examining the police response of the incident.
Mrs Prior said the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson contacted the police a second time.
She said the man then engaged in the "treat game" in a area of five youngsters.
