A person who laced treats with tranquilliser and gave them to minors at a youth camp in the area has confessed to sexual crimes against two boys both between nine and ten.
The defendant was arrested after eight minors and an older person fell ill at the location in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from that region, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he stood at the courthouse on recently.
However, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
The defendant was kept in jail prior to a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, outlined Ruben's offending to the court.
She said his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a summer camp which he managed.
Ruben conducted a "sweet game" with the children, Mrs Prior said, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were settling down and request they to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had played this game with the boys "repeatedly", and youngsters had previously become sick the next day.
She said Ruben had been able to explain this repeatedly as the minors being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his family member had concerns in summer 2025.
The legal representative added: "Recently" his family member had suspicions about what was going on, justifiably.
"They chose" to examine in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor explained items including infant oil, Vaseline and injection devices were located, and his stepchild notified the authorities about his concerns.
She explained the man went on to play the "candy game" with six children that night - that Saturday - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that time," she continued.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
The legal representative said the youngsters were struggling to walk due to their condition, so Ruben's stepson notified the authorities a second time.
She said the defendant then conducted the "sweet game" in a area of five children.
