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A man who contaminated treats with tranquilliser and provided them to children at a summer camp in the region has confessed to sexual offences against two young males both nine and ten years old.

The defendant was detained after eight youngsters and a grown-up became sick at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.

The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on recently.

Nevertheless, he disputed one particular crime he was accused of, which was against a nine-year-old child.

Ruben was kept in jail ahead of a subsequent court date on November 28th.

'Treat game'

Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, described the criminal behavior to the court.

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

The man engaged in a "sweet game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior said, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to consume candy "as fast as possible".

She stated to the judge Ruben had conducted this practice with the children "repeatedly", and minors had previously become sick the subsequent day.

She explained Ruben had been capable of justifying this for many years as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had worries in July 2025.

Mrs Prior KC continued: "This year his family member had worries about the activities, justifiably.

"They decided to examine in the man's possessions."

Mrs Prior KC explained items including infant oil, Vaseline and medical needles were discovered, and his stepson contacted the authorities about his concerns.

She explained the defendant continued to conduct the "candy game" with six boys that night - that Saturday - and they were all sick the following morning.

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

The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.

The prosecutor said the children were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so the stepson called the authorities once more.

She said Ruben then played the "sweet game" in a area of five children.