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An individual who spiked candy with sedative and distributed them to youngsters at a summer camp in the area has confessed to sexual offences against two children aged between nine and ten.

The defendant was detained after eight youngsters and one adult fell ill at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.

The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on recently.

Yet, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.

Ruben was kept in jail before a further hearing on late November.

'Sweet game'

Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, described the criminal behavior to the court.

She stated his targets were under-privileged children who were participating in a summer camp which he managed.

Ruben engaged in a "treat game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to ingest treats "as fast as possible".

She stated to the judge Ruben had played this game with the children "for many years", and youngsters had previously become sick the subsequent day.

She stated the man had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had concerns in July 2025.

Mrs Prior KC continued: "Recently" his family member had concerns about the activities, justifiably.

"They chose" to have a look in the individual's items."

Mrs Prior KC said items including lubricant, petroleum jelly and medical needles were found, and his stepson contacted the law enforcement about his suspicions.

She said the defendant continued to conduct the "sweet game" with six youngsters that time - July 26th - and they were all sick the following morning.

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

The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was reviewing the police response of the situation.

Mrs Prior said the youngsters were struggling to walk due to their condition, so Ruben's stepson contacted the authorities again.

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