An individual who spiked treats with tranquilliser and distributed them to minors at a summer camp in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two young males aged nine and ten years old.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight minors and a grown-up experienced illness at the facility in July.
The 76-year-old, from that region, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at the courthouse on recently.
Nevertheless, he denied one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
The defendant was held in detention ahead of a subsequent court date on late November.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, outlined the defendant's actions to the court.
She explained his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a youth camp which he ran.
The defendant played a "candy game" with the minors, the prosecutor said, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were settling down and ask them to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings the man had engaged in this activity with the boys "over an extended period", and children had previously become sick the following morning.
She said the man had been capable of justifying this for many years as the youngsters being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had concerns in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "This year his stepson had worries about what was going on, for good reason.
"They resolved" to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
The legal counsel explained items including baby oil, Vaseline and syringes were found, and his stepchild alerted the authorities about his suspicions.
She explained the defendant continued to engage in the "sweet game" with six boys that night - July 26th - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"The police had not responded by that time," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, had stated that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the situation.
Mrs Prior said the minors were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so the family member contacted the law enforcement a second time.
She said Ruben then conducted the "sweet game" in a area of five children.
