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An individual who contaminated sweets with sedative and provided them to children at a summer camp in the area has admitted sexual crimes against two children aged between nine and ten.

The defendant was arrested after eight youngsters and an older person fell ill at the location in July.

The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, admitted guilt to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at the courthouse on recently.

However, he denied one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was against a nine-year-old child.

Ruben was remanded in custody ahead of a further hearing on late November.

'Sweet game'

Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, detailed the defendant's actions to the court.

She said his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a summer program which he managed.

The man conducted a "candy game" with the minors, Mrs Prior said, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to eat sweets "rapidly".

She informed the proceedings Ruben had engaged in this activity with the young males "repeatedly", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the following morning.

She explained the defendant had been able to explain this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overstimulated by activities", until his family member had worries in July 2025.

The legal representative continued: "In the summer" his family member had worries about the activities, justifiably.

"They chose" to have a look in the man's possessions."

Mrs Prior KC explained materials including infant oil, ointment and syringes were discovered, and his family member alerted the authorities about his concerns.

She said the man continued to play the "treat game" with six youngsters that time - July 26th - and they were all sick the following morning.

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

The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was investigating the police response of the situation.

The prosecutor said the minors were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson notified the authorities again.

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