A man who spiked sweets with tranquilliser and provided them to children at a summer program in the region has admitted sexual crimes against two children aged nine and ten years old.
The accused was arrested after eight children and a grown-up fell ill at the facility in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from that region, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
However, he refused to admit one particular crime he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was kept in jail before a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, handling the case, outlined Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She explained his targets were under-privileged children who were participating in a youth camp which he ran.
The defendant played a "candy game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel explained, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She told the court Ruben had played this game with the children "for many years", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She stated the man had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had concerns in summer 2025.
The prosecutor continued: "Recently" his stepson had worries about what was going on, for good reason.
"They chose" to examine in the individual's items."
The legal counsel stated items including baby oil, petroleum jelly and medical needles were located, and his family member notified the authorities about his worries.
She stated Ruben continued to play the "candy game" with six children that evening - July 26th - and they were all sick the next day.
"The police had not arrived by that time," she added.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, had stated that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the situation.
Mrs Prior stated the minors were unable to walk properly due to their condition, so Ruben's stepson called the law enforcement a second time.
She explained the man then conducted the "treat game" in a area of five minors.
