🔗 Share this article Individual pleads guilty to sex offences targeting boys at summer program The accused admitted 17 charges at the courthouse on Friday An individual who spiked treats with sedative and distributed them to children at a youth camp in the area has confessed to sexual offences against two young males aged nine and 10. The defendant was arrested after eight children and one adult fell ill at the facility in July. The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he stood at the courthouse on the end of the week. Nevertheless, he denied one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old boy. Ruben was held in detention ahead of a additional proceeding on 28 November. 'Treat game' The prosecutor, presenting evidence, detailed the defendant's actions to the court. She stated his those affected were under-privileged children who were attending a youth camp which he managed. The man conducted a "candy game" with the youngsters, 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 "as quickly as they can". She informed the proceedings Ruben had conducted this practice with the children "over an extended period", and children had earlier experienced illness the next day. She explained Ruben had been capable of justifying this for many years as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had concerns in recently. Mrs Prior KC continued: "Recently" his stepson had concerns about what was going on, with valid cause. "They resolved" to have a look in the individual's items." The prosecutor explained objects including infant oil, petroleum jelly and medical needles were found, and his stepchild contacted the police about his suspicions. She said the man went on to conduct the "treat game" with six boys that night - that Saturday - and they were all sick the subsequent day. "The police had not arrived by that time," she continued. The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident. The legal representative stated the youngsters were unable to walk properly due to their condition, so Ruben's stepson called the law enforcement a second time. She said the defendant then played the "treat game" in a area of five children.