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An individual who laced sweets with sedative and gave them to children at a summer program in Leicestershire has admitted sexual offenses against two children aged nine and ten years old.

The accused was taken into custody after eight minors and a grown-up fell ill at the location in July.

The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at the judicial center on Friday.

Yet, he disputed a single sexual charge he was facing, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.

The accused was held in detention before a additional proceeding on November 28th.

'Sweet game'

The prosecutor, prosecuting, detailed the defendant's actions to the judicial body.

She explained his victims were under-privileged children who were attending a summer camp which he ran.

The defendant played a "treat game" with the children, Mrs Prior said, in which he would enter the sleeping quarters when they were preparing to sleep and tell them to consume candy "rapidly".

She stated to the judge Ruben had played this game with the boys "repeatedly", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.

She said the defendant had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his family member had suspicions in July 2025.

The prosecutor stated further: "This year his stepchild had worries about the situation, for good reason.

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

The prosecutor explained objects including baby oil, ointment and injection devices were discovered, and his stepson alerted the police about his concerns.

She said the man continued to engage in the "treat game" with six children that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the following morning.

"Authorities" had not gone out by that point," she continued.

The oversight body, the investigative body, had stated that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.

The legal representative said the youngsters were unable to walk properly due to their sickness, so the stepson called the law enforcement a second time.

She stated the defendant then conducted the "candy game" in a room of five minors.