🔗 Share this article Man admits sex offences targeting boys at youth camp The accused confessed to 17 charges at the judicial center on Friday A person who laced candy with sedative and provided them to children at a summer camp in the region has confessed to sexual offences against two boys aged nine and ten years old. The defendant was taken into custody after eight minors and an older person experienced illness at the location in July. The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at the courthouse on recently. However, he denied one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was involving a nine-year-old child. The defendant was held in detention prior to a further hearing on 28 November. 'Sweet game' The prosecutor, handling the case, detailed the criminal behavior to the legal proceedings. She said his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a summer camp which he operated. The man conducted a "sweet game" with the children, the prosecutor explained, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were settling down and tell them to consume candy "as fast as possible". She told the court the defendant had conducted this practice with the children "repeatedly", and minors had previously become sick the next day. She said Ruben had been able to explain this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had concerns in July 2025. Mrs Prior KC added: "Recently" his family member had suspicions about the situation, with valid cause. "They chose" to investigate in the individual's items." The prosecutor explained materials including baby oil, petroleum jelly and injection devices were discovered, and his family member alerted the law enforcement about his suspicions. She explained the man went on to engage in the "treat game" with six boys that evening - July 26th - and they were everyone unwell the next day. "Law enforcement" had not gone out by that point," she continued. The oversight body, the investigative body, earlier informed that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the situation. The prosecutor stated the minors were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so Ruben's stepson notified the law enforcement again. She explained the defendant then conducted the "sweet game" in a room of five children.