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A person who contaminated sweets with sleeping medication and distributed them to children at a summer camp in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual offences against two children aged between nine and ten.

The accused was detained after eight youngsters and one adult experienced illness at the location in July.

The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he stood at the courthouse on the end of the week.

Nevertheless, he refused to admit one particular crime he was accused of, which was concerning a young boy.

Ruben was remanded in custody ahead of a further hearing on November 28th.

'Sweet game'

The prosecutor, presenting evidence, detailed the criminal behavior to the judicial body.

She stated his victims were under-privileged children who were staying at a youth camp which he ran.

The defendant played a "sweet game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel explained, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and tell them to consume candy "as fast as possible".

She informed the proceedings the man had engaged in this activity with the young males "for many years", and minors had previously fallen ill the next day.

She said the man had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had suspicions in July 2025.

The prosecutor stated further: "Recently" his family member had concerns about the activities, justifiably.

"They decided to investigate in the defendant's belongings."

The prosecutor said materials including baby oil, petroleum jelly and injection devices were found, and his stepchild alerted the law enforcement about his concerns.

She stated the defendant continued to conduct the "treat game" with six youngsters that night - that Saturday - and they were everyone unwell the next day.

"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that time," she stated further.

The regulatory agency, the police conduct office, previously told that it was examining the police response of the situation.

The prosecutor said the minors were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so the stepson notified the authorities once more.

She stated Ruben then engaged in the "sweet game" in a area of five children.