A man who contaminated candy with sleeping medication and distributed them to minors at a youth camp in the area has confessed to sexual offenses against two children who were between nine and ten.
The accused was taken into custody after eight minors and one adult fell ill at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from that region, admitted guilt to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at the judicial center on the end of the week.
However, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was held in detention before a further hearing on November 28th.
'Sweet game'
The legal representative, handling the case, outlined Ruben's offending to the court.
She explained his those affected were under-privileged children who were attending a summer program which he managed.
The man conducted a "treat game" with the children, Mrs Prior said, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were settling down and ask them to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had engaged in this activity with the children "repeatedly", and minors had earlier experienced illness the following morning.
She stated the man had been capable of justifying this for many years as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had suspicions in recently.
Mrs Prior KC continued: "In the summer" his stepchild had worries about the activities, for good reason.
"They chose" to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
The legal counsel said items including baby oil, petroleum jelly and syringes were located, and his stepson alerted the law enforcement about his worries.
She stated the defendant proceeded to engage in the "treat game" with six children that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the next day.
"Authorities" had not responded by that stage," she added.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the situation.
The prosecutor explained the minors were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson called the authorities again.
She said the defendant then conducted the "candy game" in a area of five youngsters.
