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A person who laced candy with sedative and distributed them to minors at a youth camp in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two young males who were nine and 10.

The defendant was taken into custody after eight children and an older person experienced illness at the facility in the summer month.

The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on recently.

However, he denied a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was against a nine-year-old boy.

The defendant was held in detention ahead of a subsequent court date on November 28th.

'Sweet game'

The prosecutor, handling the case, detailed the criminal behavior to the court.

She explained his those affected were disadvantaged youngsters who were staying at a summer program which he ran.

Ruben conducted a "treat game" with the children, the prosecutor said, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and request they to consume candy "as fast as possible".

She informed the proceedings the defendant had played this game with the boys "for many years", and youngsters had previously become sick the next day.

She said Ruben had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his family member had suspicions in summer 2025.

The legal representative stated further: "Recently" his family member had suspicions about the situation, justifiably.

"They resolved" to examine in the defendant's belongings."

Mrs Prior KC explained items including infant oil, Vaseline and injection devices were found, and his stepchild alerted the police about his worries.

She stated Ruben continued to conduct the "treat game" with six youngsters that time - July 26th - and they were all ill the subsequent day.

"The police had not responded by that point," she added.

The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was examining law enforcement's management of the events.

The legal representative stated the minors were unable to walk properly due to their sickness, so the stepson notified the law enforcement again.

She explained the man then conducted the "sweet game" in a space of five children.