A man who laced sweets with sedative and provided them to minors at a summer camp in the area has confessed to sexual offences against two young males who were nine and 10.
The accused was taken into custody after eight minors and a grown-up fell ill at Stathern Lodge in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he stood at the courthouse on the end of the week.
Yet, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was kept in jail ahead of a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, described the criminal behavior to the legal proceedings.
She stated his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were participating in a summer program which he managed.
Ruben conducted a "treat game" with the minors, the prosecutor said, in which he would enter the sleeping quarters when they were preparing to sleep and request they to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She stated to the judge the man had conducted this practice with the young males "over an extended period", and youngsters had previously become sick the subsequent day.
She explained the defendant had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had worries in summer 2025.
The prosecutor stated further: "This year his stepson had suspicions about the activities, with valid cause.
"They chose" to have a look in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC stated items including lubricant, ointment and injection devices were discovered, and his stepson notified the law enforcement about his worries.
She said the man continued to engage in the "sweet game" with six children that night - that Saturday - and they were all ill the following morning.
"The police had not arrived by that stage," she continued.
The oversight body, the investigative body, earlier informed that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the situation.
The prosecutor said the minors were unable to walk properly due to their sickness, so the stepson contacted the authorities once more.
She explained Ruben then played the "treat game" in a area of five youngsters.
