A man who laced sweets with tranquilliser and gave them to children at a summer program in the area has confessed to sexual offences against two boys both nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was detained after eight youngsters and an older person became sick at the facility in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from that region, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at the judicial center on the end of the week.
Yet, he denied one particular crime he was charged with, which was concerning a young boy.
The defendant was remanded in custody before a subsequent court date on late November.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, outlined the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She stated his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were participating in a summer camp which he operated.
The defendant engaged in a "treat game" with the minors, the legal counsel explained, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to consume candy "rapidly".
She stated to the judge the man had played this game with the boys "for many years", and minors had previously become sick the following morning.
She stated Ruben had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had concerns in summer 2025.
The prosecutor stated further: "This year his stepchild had suspicions about what was going on, with valid cause.
"They chose" to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor explained items including infant oil, Vaseline and syringes were discovered, and his stepchild notified the police about his worries.
She said Ruben continued to play the "sweet game" with six boys that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the following morning.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that point," she continued.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
The legal representative said the minors were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so the family member notified the police again.
She stated the man then engaged in the "treat game" in a room of five minors.
