An individual who contaminated sweets with sleeping medication and distributed them to youngsters at a youth camp in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two boys both between nine and ten.
The defendant was arrested after eight youngsters and one adult fell ill at Stathern Lodge in the summer month.
The elderly man, from that region, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he was present at the courthouse on recently.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was held in detention ahead of a additional proceeding on late November.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, outlined the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She explained his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a summer program which he ran.
The man played a "candy game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel explained, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were settling down and tell them to eat sweets "rapidly".
She told the court the defendant had played this game with the boys "over an extended period", and youngsters had previously become sick the subsequent day.
She stated the man had been capable of justifying this for many years as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had concerns in recently.
The legal representative continued: "Recently" his stepson had suspicions about the situation, for good reason.
"They resolved" to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
Mrs Prior KC explained objects including baby oil, petroleum jelly and syringes were found, and his stepchild notified the authorities about his suspicions.
She explained Ruben proceeded to engage in the "treat game" with six youngsters that night - July 26th - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not gone out by that point," 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 legal representative said the children were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson notified the police once more.
She stated Ruben then conducted the "candy game" in a area of five children.
