A man who spiked sweets with sedative and provided them to youngsters at a summer camp in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two children aged nine and ten years old.
The accused was arrested after eight minors and one adult became sick at the location in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from that region, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
Yet, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was concerning a young boy.
Ruben was kept in jail prior to a subsequent court date on late November.
'Sweet game'
The legal representative, presenting evidence, described the defendant's actions to the court.
She explained his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a youth camp which he managed.
The man engaged in a "treat game" with the youngsters, the prosecutor explained, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were settling down and request they to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She stated to the judge the man had played this game with the children "for many years", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the following morning.
She said the defendant had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had suspicions in July 2025.
The legal representative continued: "Recently" his family member had suspicions about what was going on, justifiably.
"They chose" to investigate in the individual's items."
The prosecutor explained objects including infant oil, Vaseline and syringes were located, and his stepchild alerted the authorities about his worries.
She stated the man proceeded to play the "sweet game" with six boys that time - that Saturday - and they were all ill the next day.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that stage," she stated further.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was investigating Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
The legal representative explained the minors were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so Ruben's stepson called the law enforcement a second time.
She stated the man then played the "treat game" in a area of five minors.
