A man who contaminated treats with sleeping medication and gave them to minors at a summer program in the region has admitted sexual offences against two young males both nine and 10.
The accused was arrested after eight youngsters and an older person experienced illness at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
However, he denied one particular crime he was accused of, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was kept in jail prior to a subsequent court date on late November.
'Sweet game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, outlined Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She explained his victims were under-privileged children who were staying at a summer program which he operated.
The defendant engaged in a "sweet game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel stated, in which he would access the sleeping quarters when they were settling down and request they to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She told the court Ruben had played this game with the young males "over an extended period", and minors had previously become sick the next day.
She stated the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had concerns in summer 2025.
The prosecutor continued: "This year his stepchild had suspicions about the situation, for good reason.
"They decided to investigate in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel stated objects including baby oil, Vaseline and injection devices were found, and his stepchild alerted the police about his concerns.
She stated the man continued to play the "treat game" with six children that time - that Saturday - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that point," she continued.
The oversight body, the investigative body, previously told that it was investigating Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
The prosecutor explained the minors were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so the stepson contacted the law enforcement once more.
She stated the man then conducted the "treat game" in a room of five youngsters.
