A person who laced sweets with tranquilliser and distributed them to children at a youth camp in the area has confessed to sexual offenses against two boys who were nine and 10.
The defendant was detained after eight youngsters and a grown-up experienced illness at the facility in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from that region, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
Nevertheless, he denied one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was remanded in custody before a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, detailed Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She said his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a youth camp which he ran.
The man engaged in a "sweet game" with the children, the legal counsel said, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and request they to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings the man had played this game with the children "over an extended period", and minors had previously become sick the subsequent day.
She explained the man had been able to explain this for many years as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had worries in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC added: "In the summer" his stepchild had worries about what was going on, with valid cause.
"They decided to examine in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel said objects including lubricant, Vaseline and syringes were located, and his family member notified the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She explained the man proceeded to play the "candy game" with six boys that evening - that Saturday - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"The police had not gone out by that point," she added.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, had stated that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the situation.
Mrs Prior stated the children were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so the stepson notified the law enforcement again.
She explained the defendant then played the "treat game" in a area of five youngsters.
