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An individual who laced candy with sedative and gave them to children at a youth camp in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two boys who were between nine and ten.

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

The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at the courthouse on the end of the week.

Yet, he denied a single sexual charge he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old child.

Ruben was remanded in custody prior to a subsequent court date on late November.

'Candy game'

The legal representative, handling the case, outlined the defendant's actions to the judicial body.

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

The defendant engaged in a "candy game" with the children, the legal counsel explained, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".

She informed the proceedings Ruben had played this game with the young males "over an extended period", and children had previously become sick the next day.

She said the man had been capable of justifying this for many years as the minors being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had concerns in July 2025.

The prosecutor continued: "This year his stepson had suspicions about what was going on, justifiably.

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

The legal counsel said items including infant oil, petroleum jelly and syringes were found, and his stepson notified the law enforcement about his suspicions.

She explained the defendant continued to engage in the "treat game" with six youngsters that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the next day.

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

The regulatory agency, the investigative body, earlier informed that it was investigating the police response of the situation.

Mrs Prior explained the children were unable to walk properly due to their sickness, so the stepson called the police a second time.

She stated the man then engaged in the "candy game" in a room of five minors.