A man who contaminated sweets with sleeping medication and provided them to minors at a youth camp in the region has admitted sexual offences against two children aged nine and 10.
The defendant was detained after eight children and a grown-up fell ill at Stathern Lodge in July.
The senior citizen, from that region, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he was present at the courthouse on recently.
Yet, he disputed one particular crime he was accused of, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was remanded in custody ahead of a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, detailed the criminal behavior to the judicial body.
She explained his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a summer camp which he ran.
Ruben conducted a "treat game" with the minors, the prosecutor said, in which he would enter the sleeping quarters when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to ingest treats "rapidly".
She stated to the judge the defendant had conducted this practice with the children "repeatedly", and children had previously become sick the subsequent day.
She said Ruben had been able to explain this over a long period as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had suspicions in recently.
The prosecutor continued: "In the summer" his family member had suspicions about the situation, justifiably.
"They decided to investigate in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC stated objects including baby oil, petroleum jelly and injection devices were discovered, and his family member contacted the authorities about his concerns.
She explained Ruben continued to play the "treat game" with six boys that night - July 26th - and they were everyone unwell the following morning.
"Authorities" had not responded by that time," she continued.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was investigating Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
The prosecutor stated the minors were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so the stepson called the authorities a second time.
She explained Ruben then engaged in the "sweet game" in a room of five minors.
