A man who contaminated candy with sedative and distributed them to children at a summer camp in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two boys who were nine and ten years old.
The accused was taken into custody after eight children and an older person experienced illness at the facility in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from that region, admitted guilt to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
However, he denied a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was kept in jail prior to a subsequent court date on 28 November.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, outlined Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She explained his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a youth camp which he operated.
Ruben conducted a "sweet game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel stated, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had conducted this practice with the boys "for many years", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She said the defendant had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the minors being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had worries in recently.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "Recently" his family member had worries about what was going on, with valid cause.
"They resolved" to investigate in the individual's items."
The prosecutor said items including baby oil, petroleum jelly and injection devices were found, and his family member contacted the authorities about his concerns.
She said the defendant continued to play the "treat game" with six youngsters that evening - that Saturday - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that point," she continued.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the situation.
The prosecutor said the minors were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson notified the authorities a second time.
She said Ruben then played the "candy game" in a room of five youngsters.
