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An individual who contaminated candy with tranquilliser and provided them to minors at a summer camp in the region has confessed to sexual crimes against two boys both nine and ten years old.

The defendant was detained after eight youngsters and an older person became sick at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.

The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he was present at the courthouse on Friday.

Yet, he refused to admit one particular crime he was charged with, which was against a nine-year-old child.

The defendant was kept in jail prior to a additional proceeding on 28 November.

'Candy game'

Mary Prior KC, handling the case, outlined Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.

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

The man engaged in a "candy game" with the minors, Mrs Prior explained, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and tell them to eat sweets "as fast as possible".

She informed the proceedings the man had engaged in this activity with the young males "for many years", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the next day.

She said the defendant had been able to explain this for many years as the minors being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had suspicions in July 2025.

The legal representative added: "In the summer" his stepson had concerns about the activities, for good reason.

"They decided to investigate in the individual's items."

The prosecutor said materials including baby oil, petroleum jelly and syringes were found, and his stepchild alerted the authorities about his worries.

She explained Ruben continued to play the "treat game" with six children that time - July 26th - and they were all ill the next day.

"Authorities" had not gone out by that point," she stated further.

The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was investigating Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.

The prosecutor said the children were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson contacted the law enforcement once more.

She stated Ruben then played the "candy game" in a area of five youngsters.