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A person who spiked treats with sedative and gave them to children at a summer camp in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual crimes against two young males both nine and ten years old.

The defendant was detained after eight minors and one adult experienced illness at the facility in mid-summer.

The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he stood at the courthouse on recently.

Nevertheless, he denied a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.

The defendant was kept in jail prior to a further hearing on November 28th.

'Sweet game'

The legal representative, handling the case, described the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.

She said his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a youth camp which he ran.

Ruben conducted a "sweet game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel said, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and tell them to consume candy "as fast as possible".

She told the court Ruben had conducted this practice with the young males "repeatedly", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the following morning.

She said Ruben had been able to explain this for many years as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had concerns in July 2025.

The prosecutor continued: "This year his stepson had worries about the situation, for good reason.

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

The legal counsel said items including lubricant, petroleum jelly and syringes were found, and his family member alerted the police about his concerns.

She explained the defendant proceeded to play the "sweet game" with six youngsters that night - that Saturday - and they were everyone unwell the following morning.

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

The oversight body, the police conduct office, earlier informed that it was reviewing the police response of the events.

Mrs Prior stated the minors were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson called the police a second time.

She said the man then engaged in the "sweet game" in a room of five children.