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An individual who contaminated candy with sedative and gave them to minors at a youth camp in the region has confessed to sexual crimes against two boys both nine and ten years old.

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

The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, admitted guilt to a multiple criminal counts when he was present at the courthouse on Friday.

However, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.

Ruben was kept in jail ahead of a additional proceeding on November 28th.

'Sweet game'

The legal representative, presenting evidence, described the criminal behavior to the legal proceedings.

She stated his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a summer camp which he operated.

Ruben played a "candy game" with the children, the prosecutor said, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".

She told the court the defendant had engaged in this activity with the children "over an extended period", and children had earlier experienced illness the next day.

She said Ruben had been able to explain this for many years as the minors being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had worries in July 2025.

The prosecutor added: "Recently" his stepchild had worries about the activities, with valid cause.

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

The legal counsel stated materials including baby oil, ointment and syringes were found, and his stepchild contacted the law enforcement about his suspicions.

She said the defendant went on to engage in the "sweet game" with six boys that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the following morning.

"The police had not arrived by that time," she added.

The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was examining the police response of the situation.

The legal representative stated the minors were unable to walk properly due to their condition, so Ruben's stepson contacted the police a second time.

She said the man then conducted the "candy game" in a space of five minors.