A man who laced sweets with sedative and gave them to minors at a summer camp in the area has admitted sexual offenses against two children both between nine and ten.
The accused was taken into custody after eight youngsters and one adult fell ill at Stathern Lodge in July.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
However, he denied one particular crime he was accused of, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was kept in jail before a further hearing on late November.
'Sweet game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, outlined the criminal behavior to the legal proceedings.
She said his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a summer program which he ran.
The defendant conducted a "candy game" with the children, the legal counsel stated, in which he would access the sleeping quarters when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to ingest treats "rapidly".
She stated to the judge Ruben had conducted this practice with the children "repeatedly", and children had previously fallen ill the next day.
She said the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had suspicions in summer 2025.
The legal representative stated further: "This year his stepchild had concerns about the activities, for good reason.
"They chose" to have a look in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC explained objects including baby oil, petroleum jelly and syringes were found, and his stepson contacted the law enforcement about his concerns.
She said the defendant proceeded to play the "treat game" with six children that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the next day.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that point," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, earlier informed that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the situation.
The legal representative said the youngsters were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so the stepson contacted the police again.
She stated the man then played the "sweet game" in a room of five youngsters.
