A person who laced candy with tranquilliser and provided them to children at a youth camp in the region has confessed to sexual offences against two children who were nine and 10.
The defendant was detained after eight minors and a grown-up fell ill at Stathern Lodge in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from that region, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at the judicial center on Friday.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was held in detention prior to a additional proceeding on late November.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, described the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She explained his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a youth camp which he operated.
The man engaged in a "candy game" with the minors, the prosecutor said, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and request they to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings the man had conducted this practice with the young males "for many years", and children had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She explained the defendant had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the minors being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had worries in summer 2025.
The prosecutor continued: "In the summer" his family member had worries about what was going on, for good reason.
"They decided to have a look in the individual's items."
The legal counsel said materials including infant oil, ointment and injection devices were discovered, and his stepson contacted the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She stated Ruben proceeded to play the "candy game" with six boys that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that time," she continued.
The oversight body, the police conduct office, previously told that it was investigating Leicestershire Police's handling of the situation.
The prosecutor stated the children were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so the stepson notified the law enforcement again.
She stated the defendant then played the "sweet game" in a area of five minors.
