A person who laced treats with sleeping medication and distributed them to children at a youth camp in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two children who were between nine and ten.
The accused was taken into custody after eight children and an older person experienced illness 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 the judicial center on recently.
Yet, he disputed a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was remanded in custody ahead of a additional proceeding on November 28th.
'Candy game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, detailed Ruben's offending to the court.
She stated his targets were under-privileged children who were participating in a summer camp which he operated.
The man played a "sweet game" with the children, the prosecutor stated, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were settling down and request they to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She stated to the judge the man had engaged in this activity with the children "over an extended period", and minors had previously fallen ill the next day.
She stated the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the youngsters being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had worries in summer 2025.
The prosecutor added: "Recently" his stepson had concerns about the situation, justifiably.
"They decided to investigate in the individual's items."
The legal counsel said materials including infant oil, Vaseline and syringes were discovered, and his stepson contacted the law enforcement about his concerns.
She said the defendant proceeded to play the "sweet game" with six youngsters that time - that Saturday - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"The police had not responded by that time," she added.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the situation.
The legal representative explained the children were struggling to walk due to their condition, so the stepson contacted the police again.
She said the man then played the "candy game" in a area of five minors.