An individual who contaminated sweets with sleeping medication and distributed them to minors at a summer camp in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two young males who were between nine and ten.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight minors and a grown-up experienced illness at the facility in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from that region, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
Nevertheless, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
The defendant was held in detention ahead of a additional proceeding on November 28th.
'Candy game'
The prosecutor, presenting evidence, detailed the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She stated his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were participating in a summer camp which he ran.
The defendant engaged in a "candy game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior said, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were settling down and ask them to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She stated to the judge the man had played this game with the boys "repeatedly", and minors had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She stated the defendant had been able to explain this for many years as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had concerns in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC continued: "This year his family member had worries about what was going on, justifiably.
"They decided to investigate in the individual's items."
The legal counsel stated items including baby oil, Vaseline and injection devices were located, and his stepchild contacted the authorities about his suspicions.
She explained Ruben continued to engage in the "candy game" with six children that time - that Saturday - and they were all sick the following morning.
"The police had not responded by that stage," she continued.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was reviewing the police response of the incident.
The prosecutor stated the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so Ruben's stepson called the authorities a second time.
She explained the man then engaged in the "candy game" in a space of five minors.
