🔗 Share this article Person pleads guilty to sex offences targeting young males at summer camp The defendant confessed to 17 criminal counts at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week A person who spiked sweets with sedative and distributed them to youngsters at a summer camp in the region has admitted sexual offences against two boys both nine and ten years old. The defendant was arrested after eight minors and a grown-up experienced illness at the facility in mid-summer. The 76-year-old, 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 accused of, which was against a nine-year-old boy. Ruben was held in detention before a subsequent court date on 28 November. 'Candy game' The prosecutor, presenting evidence, outlined Ruben's offending to the court. She said his those affected were disadvantaged youngsters who were participating in a youth camp which he operated. Ruben played a "candy game" with the minors, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would enter the sleeping quarters when they were settling down and tell them to eat sweets "rapidly". She informed the proceedings the defendant had engaged in this activity with the children "for many years", and children had previously become sick the next day. She stated the man 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. The prosecutor stated further: "This year his stepson had worries about the activities, for good reason. "They resolved" to investigate in the man's possessions." The prosecutor stated materials including lubricant, Vaseline and injection devices were discovered, and his stepchild notified the police about his suspicions. She explained Ruben went on to engage in the "sweet game" with six youngsters that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the subsequent day. "Authorities" had not arrived by that point," she added. The regulatory agency, the investigative body, previously told that it was examining law enforcement's management of the events. The prosecutor stated the youngsters were unable to walk properly due to their condition, so the family member notified the police a second time. She explained the defendant then engaged in the "candy game" in a area of five youngsters.