A person who laced sweets with sleeping medication and distributed them to minors at a summer camp in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two children aged nine and 10.
The accused was detained after eight children and a grown-up fell ill at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from that region, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
Yet, he disputed a single sexual charge he was facing, which was against a young boy.
The defendant was kept in jail prior to a further hearing on November 28th.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, described the criminal behavior to the legal proceedings.
She said his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a summer camp which he operated.
The man engaged in a "candy game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel explained, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and tell them to eat sweets "rapidly".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had conducted this practice with the children "repeatedly", and children had earlier experienced illness the following morning.
She explained Ruben had been capable of justifying this for many years as the minors being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had worries in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC added: "In the summer" his family member had suspicions about the activities, for good reason.
"They decided to examine in the individual's items."
The legal counsel stated materials including infant oil, petroleum jelly and medical needles were found, and his family member contacted the authorities about his suspicions.
She stated the defendant proceeded to engage in the "treat game" with six children that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that time," she stated further.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was investigating Leicestershire Police's handling of the situation.
Mrs Prior said the minors were struggling to walk due to being ill, so the family member notified the authorities once more.
She said Ruben then played the "sweet game" in a area of five minors.
