A man who spiked candy with sleeping medication and provided them to minors at a youth camp in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two children aged nine and 10.
The accused was arrested after eight youngsters and a grown-up fell ill at the facility in the summer month.
The elderly man, from that region, admitted guilt to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was involving a young boy.
The defendant was kept in jail before a additional proceeding on November 28th.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, detailed the defendant's actions to the court.
She said his targets were under-privileged children who were attending a summer camp which he ran.
Ruben conducted a "sweet game" with the minors, the legal counsel stated, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and ask them to ingest treats "as fast as possible".
She told the court Ruben had played this game with the young males "over an extended period", and children had previously become sick the next day.
She said Ruben had been able to explain this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had worries in recently.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "In the summer" his stepchild had worries about what was going on, with valid cause.
"They resolved" to have a look in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor explained objects including lubricant, ointment and medical needles were found, and his family member notified the authorities about his suspicions.
She explained Ruben went on to play the "treat game" with six youngsters that time - July 26th - and they were everyone unwell the next day.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that time," she added.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
Mrs Prior explained the minors were struggling to walk due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson contacted the police a second time.
She stated Ruben then conducted the "candy game" in a space of five youngsters.
