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A person who laced candy with sleeping medication and distributed them to minors at a summer camp in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two boys who were between nine and ten.

The accused was taken into custody after eight minors and an older person became sick at the location in July.

The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at the courthouse on recently.

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

Ruben was held in detention ahead of a further hearing on late November.

'Treat game'

The prosecutor, prosecuting, detailed the defendant's actions to the court.

She said his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a summer program which he operated.

The defendant played a "sweet game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to consume candy "rapidly".

She stated to the judge the man had played this game with the boys "over an extended period", and youngsters had previously become sick the subsequent day.

She explained Ruben had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had concerns in summer 2025.

The legal representative continued: "In the summer" his stepchild had concerns about the situation, for good reason.

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

The legal counsel explained items including baby oil, Vaseline and medical needles were found, and his stepson notified the law enforcement about his suspicions.

She said the man proceeded to engage in the "treat game" with six children that evening - that Saturday - and they were all sick the subsequent day.

"Authorities" had not responded by that point," she added.

The oversight body, the police conduct office, earlier informed that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the events.

The legal representative said the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson notified the police a second time.

She explained Ruben then engaged in the "sweet game" in a room of five minors.