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An individual who contaminated candy with sleeping medication and distributed them to children at a summer program in the region has confessed to sexual crimes against two children who were between nine and ten.

The defendant was taken into custody after eight youngsters and an older person fell ill at the facility in July.

The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he was present at the courthouse on the end of the week.

Yet, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.

The accused was kept in jail ahead of a subsequent court date on 28 November.

'Sweet game'

The legal representative, prosecuting, detailed Ruben's offending to the court.

She explained his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a youth camp which he managed.

The defendant conducted a "treat game" with the children, the legal counsel stated, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to consume candy "rapidly".

She told the court the man had conducted this practice with the young males "for many years", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the next day.

She said the man had been capable of justifying this for many years as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had suspicions in July 2025.

Mrs Prior KC added: "This year his stepchild had suspicions about the situation, for good reason.

"They resolved" to examine in the individual's items."

The legal counsel stated items including infant oil, Vaseline and medical needles were found, and his family member notified the authorities about his suspicions.

She stated the defendant proceeded to play the "candy game" with six children that night - July 26th - and they were all sick the subsequent day.

"Authorities" had not arrived by that point," she added.

The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the situation.

The legal representative explained the children were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson contacted the authorities again.

She said the man then conducted the "candy game" in a space of five youngsters.