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A person who spiked sweets with tranquilliser and distributed them to minors at a summer program in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two young males both between nine and ten.

The accused was detained after eight minors and a grown-up experienced illness at the facility in July.

The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at the courthouse on Friday.

However, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old child.

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

'Candy game'

The prosecutor, prosecuting, described Ruben's offending to the court.

She said his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a summer program which he operated.

Ruben conducted a "treat game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel stated, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and request they to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".

She stated to the judge Ruben had engaged in this activity with the children "for many years", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.

She explained Ruben had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had worries in summer 2025.

The legal representative continued: "In the summer" his stepson had suspicions about the activities, with valid cause.

"They resolved" to investigate in the man's possessions."

The legal counsel said objects including lubricant, Vaseline and injection devices were discovered, and his family member contacted the law enforcement about his concerns.

She stated the man continued to engage in the "candy game" with six children that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the next day.

"Law enforcement" had not responded by that time," she continued.

The regulatory agency, the police conduct office, previously told that it was investigating Leicestershire Police's handling of the situation.

The legal representative explained the minors were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so the family member called the law enforcement once more.

She said the man then conducted the "sweet game" in a area of five children.