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A person who contaminated candy with tranquilliser and provided them to minors at a youth camp in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two young males aged between nine and ten.

The defendant was detained after eight children and an older person fell ill at the facility in July.

The elderly man, from that region, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at the courthouse on recently.

Nevertheless, he refused to admit one particular crime he was accused of, which was against a nine-year-old boy.

The accused was remanded in custody before a additional proceeding on 28 November.

'Sweet game'

Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, described Ruben's offending to the court.

She stated his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were participating in a youth camp which he operated.

The defendant played a "sweet game" with the minors, Mrs Prior said, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and tell them to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".

She told the court the man had played this game with the children "over an extended period", and children had earlier experienced illness the next day.

She stated Ruben had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had suspicions in summer 2025.

Mrs Prior KC stated further: "This year his family member had suspicions about what was going on, for good reason.

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

The legal counsel stated items including lubricant, petroleum jelly and medical needles were discovered, and his family member contacted the authorities about his concerns.

She said the man proceeded to conduct the "treat game" with six boys that night - July 26th - and they were all sick the next day.

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

The regulatory agency, the police conduct office, previously told that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.

The legal representative explained the children were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so the family member contacted the authorities again.

She said the man then engaged in the "sweet game" in a area of five children.