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A person who laced treats with sleeping medication and provided them to minors at a youth camp in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual offences against two children both nine and 10.

The accused was taken into custody after eight minors and a grown-up fell ill at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.

The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at the judicial center on Friday.

However, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was concerning a young boy.

Ruben was kept in jail ahead of a further hearing on late November.

'Candy game'

The legal representative, prosecuting, outlined the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.

She said his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a summer program which he ran.

Ruben played a "treat game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior explained, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and tell them to eat sweets "rapidly".

She stated to the judge the defendant had played this game with the young males "over an extended period", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the next day.

She explained the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had worries in July 2025.

Mrs Prior KC continued: "Recently" his stepchild had concerns about the situation, for good reason.

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

The legal counsel stated items including lubricant, ointment and injection devices were found, and his family member notified the authorities about his worries.

She explained the man went on to engage in the "treat game" with six boys that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the subsequent day.

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

The regulatory agency, the police conduct office, previously told that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.

The prosecutor stated the youngsters were unable to walk properly due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson notified the police a second time.

She explained Ruben then engaged in the "candy game" in a room of five youngsters.