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A man who spiked sweets with sleeping medication and distributed them to children at a youth camp in the area has admitted sexual offenses against two young males aged between nine and ten.

The defendant was detained after eight minors and a grown-up experienced illness at the facility in mid-summer.

The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at the judicial center on recently.

Yet, he denied one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was against a nine-year-old child.

The defendant was kept in jail ahead of a additional proceeding on 28 November.

'Candy game'

The prosecutor, presenting evidence, described Ruben's offending to the judicial body.

She stated his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were staying at a summer program which he ran.

Ruben played a "candy game" with the children, the prosecutor explained, in which he would access the sleeping quarters when they were preparing to sleep and request they to consume candy "rapidly".

She informed the proceedings Ruben had conducted this practice with the children "repeatedly", and children had earlier experienced illness the next day.

She stated Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had worries in summer 2025.

The legal representative stated further: "This year his stepson had worries about the activities, for good reason.

"They chose" to have a look in the defendant's belongings."

The legal counsel stated objects including lubricant, ointment and injection devices were discovered, and his stepchild notified the authorities about his worries.

She stated the defendant went on to play the "sweet game" with six children that evening - July 26th - and they were all ill the next day.

"Authorities" had not gone out by that time," she continued.

The oversight body, the police conduct office, had stated that it was examining the police response of the incident.

The legal representative said the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so the family member notified the authorities a second time.

She stated the defendant then engaged in the "sweet game" in a room of five minors.