A person who spiked treats with sedative and distributed them to minors at a summer camp in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two boys aged nine and 10.
The accused was arrested after eight children and a grown-up experienced illness at the location in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from that region, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
However, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was facing, which was concerning a young boy.
The defendant was held in detention ahead of a further hearing on late November.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, outlined Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She said his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a youth camp which he managed.
The man conducted a "candy game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel explained, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and tell them to ingest treats "rapidly".
She told the court the defendant had played this game with the boys "repeatedly", and minors had earlier experienced illness the following morning.
She stated the man had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had worries in summer 2025.
The legal representative added: "This year his stepchild had concerns about what was going on, for good reason.
"They chose" to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
Mrs Prior KC stated materials including lubricant, petroleum jelly and medical needles were found, and his stepson alerted the authorities about his concerns.
She said the defendant continued to conduct the "candy game" with six boys that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the following morning.
"The police had not responded by that stage," she continued.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, earlier informed that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the situation.
Mrs Prior stated the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so the stepson called the police a second time.
She explained the man then engaged in the "candy game" in a room of five youngsters.
