An individual who spiked treats 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 nine and ten years old.
The accused was arrested after eight youngsters and an older person became sick at the location in July.
The elderly man, from that region, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at the judicial center on recently.
However, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was kept in jail prior to a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, outlined Ruben's offending to the court.
She stated his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a summer camp which he managed.
The defendant engaged in a "treat game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel stated, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and ask them to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings the man had engaged in this activity with the young males "over an extended period", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She said the man had been able to explain this for many years as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had concerns in July 2025.
The legal representative added: "This year his family member had concerns about what was going on, with valid cause.
"They chose" to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
Mrs Prior KC said materials including lubricant, petroleum jelly and medical needles were found, and his stepson alerted the law enforcement about his worries.
She said the defendant went on to play the "treat game" with six children that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that point," she continued.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was investigating Leicestershire Police's handling of the situation.
The legal representative explained the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so the family member contacted the law enforcement once more.
She stated the defendant then engaged in the "candy game" in a room of five children.
