A man who contaminated candy with tranquilliser and provided them to minors at a youth camp in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two young males who were nine and 10.
The accused was taken into custody after eight children and one adult fell ill at the location in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from that region, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he was present at the courthouse on recently.
However, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was against a young boy.
The accused was remanded in custody before a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, detailed the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She explained his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were participating in a youth camp which he managed.
Ruben conducted a "treat game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior said, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were settling down and request they to ingest treats "rapidly".
She told the court the defendant had conducted this practice with the children "repeatedly", and youngsters had previously become sick the subsequent day.
She stated the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had worries in July 2025.
The legal representative continued: "Recently" his stepson had worries about what was going on, justifiably.
"They resolved" to investigate in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC stated objects including baby oil, Vaseline and syringes were discovered, and his stepchild contacted the authorities about his suspicions.
She stated the defendant proceeded to conduct the "treat game" with six boys that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"The police had not arrived by that point," she added.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
The legal representative explained the minors were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so Ruben's stepson contacted the authorities again.
She explained Ruben then engaged in the "treat game" in a room of five youngsters.
