A person who spiked treats with sedative and gave them to youngsters at a youth camp in the area has confessed to sexual crimes against two young males aged nine and 10.
The accused was taken into custody after eight youngsters and one adult became sick at Stathern Lodge in July.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he stood at the courthouse on the end of the week.
Nevertheless, he denied a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was kept in jail ahead of a subsequent court date on 28 November.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, presenting evidence, outlined the defendant's actions to the court.
She stated his victims were under-privileged children who were attending a youth camp which he managed.
The defendant played a "candy game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings the man had conducted this practice with the young males "for many years", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the following morning.
She said the defendant had been able to explain this repeatedly as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his family member had suspicions in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC added: "This year his stepson had suspicions about what was going on, with valid cause.
"They decided to have a look in the individual's items."
The prosecutor stated items including baby oil, ointment and injection devices were located, and his stepson alerted the authorities about his worries.
She said Ruben continued to engage in the "candy game" with six boys that evening - that Saturday - and they were everyone unwell the following morning.
"The police had not responded by that stage," she added.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was investigating Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
The prosecutor said the children were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson contacted the authorities again.
She stated the defendant then engaged in the "candy game" in a space of five children.
