A person who contaminated sweets with sleeping medication and distributed them to youngsters at a summer program in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two children who were nine and ten years old.
The accused was arrested after eight youngsters and an older person fell ill at the location in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from that region, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was concerning a young boy.
The defendant was remanded in custody before a further hearing on late November.
'Candy game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, described Ruben's offending to the court.
She explained his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were participating in a summer camp which he ran.
The man played a "treat game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel said, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and ask them to consume candy "rapidly".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had engaged in this activity with the boys "repeatedly", and children had previously become sick the subsequent day.
She stated the man had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had suspicions in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "This year his stepchild had suspicions about the situation, for good reason.
"They resolved" to examine in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC stated materials including infant oil, ointment and medical needles were discovered, and his stepson alerted the authorities about his concerns.
She stated the defendant went on to conduct the "sweet game" with six children that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the following morning.
"The police had not gone out by that stage," she continued.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, had stated that it was examining law enforcement's management of the situation.
The prosecutor explained the youngsters were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so the family member called the police a second time.
She stated the defendant then conducted the "sweet game" in a room of five children.
