A man who laced sweets with sedative and gave them to youngsters at a summer camp in the area has confessed to sexual offenses against two children who were nine and ten years old.
The accused was taken into custody after eight children and a grown-up experienced illness at the location in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from that region, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
Yet, he denied one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was concerning a young boy.
Ruben was kept in jail ahead of a subsequent court date on late November.
'Candy game'
The prosecutor, presenting evidence, detailed the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She said his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were participating in a summer camp which he ran.
The defendant engaged in a "treat game" with the minors, the prosecutor said, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and tell them to ingest treats "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had engaged in this activity with the children "repeatedly", and youngsters had previously become sick the following morning.
She explained Ruben had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his family member had worries in recently.
The legal representative added: "This year his stepchild had concerns about the situation, with valid cause.
"They decided to have a look in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC explained items including infant oil, ointment and syringes were discovered, and his stepchild alerted the police about his worries.
She said the defendant proceeded to conduct the "candy game" with six boys that evening - that Saturday - and they were all ill the following morning.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that stage," she continued.
The oversight body, the investigative body, had stated that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the situation.
Mrs Prior stated the youngsters were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so the family member called the authorities once more.
She stated the defendant then played the "treat game" in a space of five youngsters.
