A person who laced treats with tranquilliser and gave them to minors at a youth camp in the area has confessed to sexual offences against two young males both nine and 10.
The accused was taken into custody after eight children and an older person experienced illness at the location in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from that region, admitted guilt to a total of 17 charges when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
Yet, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was against a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was kept in jail ahead of a further hearing on 28 November.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, detailed the defendant's actions to the court.
She stated his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a summer camp which he ran.
The defendant engaged in a "treat game" with the children, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and ask them to ingest treats "rapidly".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had engaged in this activity with the boys "over an extended period", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She stated the defendant had been able to explain this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had suspicions in summer 2025.
The legal representative continued: "In the summer" his stepchild had concerns about the situation, for good reason.
"They decided to investigate in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel stated objects including infant oil, ointment and medical needles were found, and his stepson contacted the authorities about his suspicions.
She said the defendant went on to play the "treat game" with six boys that time - July 26th - and they were all sick the next day.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that point," she added.
The oversight body, the police conduct office, previously told that it was examining the police response of the situation.
Mrs Prior stated the children were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so the stepson contacted the law enforcement again.
She explained Ruben then played the "sweet game" in a room of five minors.
