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An individual who contaminated sweets with sedative and distributed them to minors at a summer program in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual offenses against two young males both between nine and ten.

The accused was detained after eight youngsters and a grown-up fell ill at the location in mid-summer.

The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he stood at the judicial center on Friday.

Nevertheless, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.

Ruben was held in detention before a subsequent court date on late November.

'Treat game'

The legal representative, prosecuting, described the criminal behavior to the judicial body.

She said his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a youth camp which he ran.

The man conducted a "candy game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel explained, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were settling down and request they to consume candy "rapidly".

She told the court the man had played this game with the young males "repeatedly", and minors had previously fallen ill the next day.

She stated the defendant had been able to explain this over a long period as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had worries in July 2025.

Mrs Prior KC continued: "Recently" his stepchild had worries about what was going on, with valid cause.

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

Mrs Prior KC said items including lubricant, ointment and syringes were located, and his stepchild contacted the police about his concerns.

She said Ruben went on to conduct the "sweet game" with six children that time - that Saturday - and they were everyone unwell the following morning.

"The police had not arrived by that stage," she continued.

The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was investigating the police response of the incident.

Mrs Prior explained the minors were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson called the authorities a second time.

She explained the defendant then engaged in the "candy game" in a room of five youngsters.