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A person who spiked sweets with sleeping medication and provided them to minors at a youth camp in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two children aged between nine and ten.

The defendant was taken into custody after eight youngsters and a grown-up became sick at the facility in July.

The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he stood at the courthouse on recently.

Yet, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was against a young boy.

The accused was kept in jail prior to a additional proceeding on late November.

'Candy game'

Mary Prior KC, handling the case, described the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.

She stated his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were staying at a summer camp which he managed.

The defendant engaged in a "treat game" with the children, the prosecutor said, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to consume candy "rapidly".

She informed the proceedings the defendant had played this game with the boys "repeatedly", and children had previously become sick the following morning.

She stated the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his family member had worries in summer 2025.

The prosecutor continued: "This year his family member had worries about the activities, justifiably.

"They resolved" to examine in the defendant's belongings."

Mrs Prior KC said items including lubricant, petroleum jelly and medical needles were discovered, and his family member notified the law enforcement about his concerns.

She stated Ruben went on to conduct the "treat game" with six children that night - that Saturday - and they were everyone unwell the next day.

"Authorities" had not arrived by that time," she continued.

The oversight body, the police conduct office, had stated that it was examining the police response of the incident.

The prosecutor stated the children were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so the stepson called the police again.

She stated the defendant then engaged in the "candy game" in a space of five minors.