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An individual who laced treats with sleeping medication and gave them to youngsters at a summer program in the region has confessed to sexual crimes against two children aged nine and 10.

The defendant was detained after eight youngsters and a grown-up fell ill at the location in the summer month.

The senior citizen, from that region, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.

However, he denied one particular crime he was charged with, which was against a young boy.

Ruben was kept in jail before a subsequent court date on late November.

'Sweet game'

Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, described Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.

She said his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a youth camp which he ran.

The defendant played a "treat game" with the children, the legal counsel explained, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were settling down and request they to consume candy "rapidly".

She told the court the man had played this game with the boys "for many years", and children had previously become sick the following morning.

She explained the man had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had suspicions in summer 2025.

The prosecutor added: "In the summer" his family member had suspicions about the situation, for good reason.

"They chose" to have a look in the man's possessions."

The legal counsel explained items including infant oil, ointment and medical needles were discovered, and his stepchild notified the police about his suspicions.

She explained Ruben continued to conduct the "treat game" with six children that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the following morning.

"The police had not responded by that stage," she continued.

The oversight body, the investigative body, previously told that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.

The prosecutor explained the minors were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so the stepson called the law enforcement once more.

She said the defendant then engaged in the "treat game" in a area of five children.