An individual who contaminated candy with sleeping medication and provided them to children at a youth camp in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two young males aged nine and 10.
The defendant was detained after eight minors and an older person experienced illness at the location in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from that region, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he stood at the judicial center on the end of the week.
Nevertheless, he denied one particular crime he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was kept in jail ahead of a further hearing on late November.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, described the criminal behavior to the legal proceedings.
She said his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a summer camp which he ran.
The defendant engaged in a "candy game" with the children, the prosecutor stated, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and tell them to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had played this game with the young males "over an extended period", and minors had earlier experienced illness the following morning.
She said the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the youngsters being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his family member had worries in July 2025.
The prosecutor stated further: "Recently" his family member had worries about what was going on, justifiably.
"They chose" to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor said items including infant oil, Vaseline and syringes were located, and his family member notified the police about his concerns.
She said the defendant proceeded to play the "candy game" with six children that time - that Saturday - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that time," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, previously told that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
The legal representative explained the minors were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so Ruben's stepson called the authorities again.
She explained the man then engaged in the "treat game" in a area of five minors.
