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A man who laced treats with sedative and provided them to minors at a summer program in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual crimes against two boys who were between nine and ten.

The defendant was taken into custody after eight minors and one adult experienced illness at the location in mid-summer.

The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at the judicial center on recently.

However, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was involving a young boy.

Ruben was held in detention prior to a further hearing on late November.

'Sweet game'

The prosecutor, presenting evidence, outlined the defendant's actions to the court.

She said his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a youth camp which he managed.

Ruben played a "treat game" with the minors, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and tell them to consume candy "as fast as possible".

She stated to the judge the defendant had played this game with the boys "over an extended period", and minors had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.

She explained Ruben had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had worries in summer 2025.

The prosecutor added: "Recently" his family member had suspicions about the situation, for good reason.

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

The prosecutor said items including baby oil, Vaseline and injection devices were discovered, and his family member alerted the authorities about his suspicions.

She explained the man continued to engage in the "treat game" with six boys that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the next day.

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

The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was investigating the police response of the incident.

Mrs Prior stated the minors were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so the family member called the police a second time.

She said the defendant then played the "sweet game" in a area of five minors.