An individual who laced treats with sleeping medication and gave them to minors at a summer camp in the area has admitted sexual offenses against two young males who were nine and 10.
The accused was detained after eight children and an older person became sick at Stathern Lodge in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from that region, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
Nevertheless, he denied a single sexual charge he was facing, which was involving a young boy.
Ruben was kept in jail ahead of a additional proceeding on November 28th.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, described the criminal behavior to the judicial body.
She said his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a youth camp which he ran.
The man played a "treat game" with the children, the legal counsel explained, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were settling down and ask them to eat sweets "rapidly".
She told the court the man had engaged in this activity with the boys "for many years", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She said the man had been able to explain this for many years as the minors being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had suspicions in July 2025.
The legal representative continued: "In the summer" his stepson had suspicions about the activities, for good reason.
"They resolved" to examine in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC explained items including baby oil, petroleum jelly and syringes were discovered, and his stepchild alerted the authorities about his worries.
She stated the defendant went on to engage in the "treat game" with six boys that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the following morning.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that stage," she added.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was investigating the police response of the situation.
Mrs Prior stated the youngsters were struggling to walk due to being ill, so the stepson notified the authorities again.
She stated Ruben then conducted the "treat game" in a space of five children.
