A person who laced treats with sedative and distributed them to children at a youth camp in the area has confessed to sexual crimes against two young males who were nine and ten years old.
The accused was detained after eight minors and a grown-up experienced illness at the location in July.
The 76-year-old, from that region, admitted guilt to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
However, he denied one particular crime he was charged with, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was kept in jail prior to a subsequent court date on 28 November.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, detailed the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She explained his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a summer program which he managed.
Ruben played a "candy game" with the youngsters, the prosecutor said, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to ingest treats "as fast as possible".
She told the court Ruben had played this game with the young males "repeatedly", and minors had previously become sick the next day.
She stated the man had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had concerns in summer 2025.
The prosecutor stated further: "Recently" his stepson had suspicions about what was going on, with valid cause.
"They chose" to investigate in the individual's items."
The prosecutor stated objects including lubricant, ointment and injection devices were located, and his stepchild notified the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She said the man went on to conduct the "candy game" with six children that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that time," she added.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was examining the police response of the events.
Mrs Prior stated the children were struggling to walk due to their condition, so the family member contacted the police again.
She explained the man then played the "sweet game" in a area of five children.
