An individual who contaminated treats with sedative and provided them to youngsters at a summer camp in the area has confessed to sexual offenses against two young males who were nine and 10.
The accused was detained after eight youngsters and one adult fell ill at the location in July.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was concerning a young boy.
The accused was kept in jail ahead of a subsequent court date on late November.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, presenting evidence, outlined Ruben's offending to the court.
She stated his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were staying at a summer program which he ran.
The man engaged in a "sweet game" with the youngsters, the prosecutor said, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to eat sweets "rapidly".
She stated to the judge the defendant had engaged in this activity with the children "over an extended period", and youngsters had previously become sick the subsequent day.
She said Ruben had been able to explain this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had suspicions in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "In the summer" his stepson had concerns about what was going on, justifiably.
"They chose" to examine in the defendant's belongings."
Mrs Prior KC said items including infant oil, ointment and syringes were found, and his stepson alerted the authorities about his concerns.
She explained the defendant continued to engage in the "candy game" with six youngsters that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the following morning.
"The police had not gone out by that stage," she continued.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the situation.
The legal representative stated the youngsters were unable to walk properly due to their sickness, so the stepson called the law enforcement once more.
She said the man then played the "treat game" in a space of five youngsters.
