A man who laced treats with sedative and distributed them to children at a summer program in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two children aged nine and 10.
The accused was arrested after eight children and a grown-up became sick at the location in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from that region, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he was present at the courthouse on recently.
Yet, he denied one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was kept in jail before a additional proceeding on November 28th.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, detailed Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She stated his those affected were disadvantaged youngsters who were staying at a summer program which he operated.
The defendant played a "treat game" with the minors, the legal counsel explained, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and request they to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She told the court the man had conducted this practice with the boys "repeatedly", and minors had previously become sick the next day.
She explained Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had suspicions in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "This year his stepchild had suspicions about what was going on, justifiably.
"They decided to investigate in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel said objects including baby oil, Vaseline and syringes were located, and his stepchild contacted the authorities about his concerns.
She said Ruben went on to conduct the "candy game" with six youngsters that evening - July 26th - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"The police had not arrived by that stage," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was investigating Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
Mrs Prior said the youngsters were unable to walk properly due to their condition, so Ruben's stepson called the police a second time.
She said the man then played the "candy game" in a area of five minors.
