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A person who laced sweets with sedative and distributed them to youngsters at a summer camp in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two boys both nine and 10.

The defendant was arrested after eight children and an older person became sick at the facility in mid-summer.

The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he was present at the courthouse on Friday.

Yet, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was against a nine-year-old boy.

Ruben was remanded in custody prior to a further hearing on November 28th.

'Candy game'

The prosecutor, presenting evidence, detailed the criminal behavior to the legal proceedings.

She explained his victims were under-privileged children who were staying at a youth camp which he managed.

Ruben played a "treat game" with the minors, the prosecutor said, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and request they to consume candy "as fast as possible".

She stated to the judge the man had played this game with the children "for many years", and children had earlier experienced illness the following morning.

She said the man had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the minors being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his family member had worries in July 2025.

The legal representative stated further: "Recently" his stepchild had suspicions about the situation, for good reason.

"They resolved" to examine in the individual's items."

The prosecutor stated objects including lubricant, ointment and medical needles were located, and his stepchild notified the authorities about his worries.

She said the defendant continued to play the "candy game" with six boys that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.

"Authorities" had not gone out by that stage," she continued.

The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was investigating the police response of the events.

The legal representative stated the minors were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so the stepson called the law enforcement again.

She said the man then played the "candy game" in a room of five youngsters.