A person who spiked treats with sleeping medication and gave them to youngsters at a youth camp in the region has confessed to sexual crimes against two young males who were nine and ten years old.
The accused was taken into custody after eight youngsters and an older person became sick at Stathern Lodge in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from that region, admitted guilt to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at the courthouse on Friday.
Yet, he disputed one particular crime he was facing, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was kept in jail before a further hearing on 28 November.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, handling the case, detailed the criminal behavior to the court.
She explained his targets were under-privileged children who were participating in a summer program which he ran.
The man played a "treat game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel said, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and request they to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".
She told the court the man had played this game with the children "repeatedly", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the following morning.
She explained Ruben had been capable of justifying this for many years as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had concerns in summer 2025.
The legal representative added: "In the summer" his family member had concerns about the situation, justifiably.
"They decided to investigate in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor said objects including infant oil, ointment and injection devices were found, and his stepson contacted the law enforcement about his worries.
She said the defendant proceeded to play the "candy game" with six boys that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the following morning.
"The police had not responded by that time," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the police conduct office, had stated that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the situation.
Mrs Prior stated the children were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson notified the police a second time.
She stated the defendant then conducted the "treat game" in a room of five youngsters.
