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A man who spiked candy with sedative and distributed them to minors at a summer program in the area has admitted sexual offenses against two young males aged nine and ten years old.

The defendant was detained after eight minors and a grown-up became sick at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.

The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he stood at the judicial center on Friday.

However, he disputed one particular crime he was accused of, which was against a nine-year-old child.

The defendant was held in detention before a additional proceeding on 28 November.

'Treat game'

The prosecutor, presenting evidence, outlined the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.

She said his targets were under-privileged children who were attending a youth camp which he ran.

Ruben played a "candy game" with the minors, the legal counsel said, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to ingest treats "rapidly".

She told the court the defendant had conducted this practice with the children "repeatedly", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.

She explained the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had worries in July 2025.

Mrs Prior KC continued: "Recently" his stepchild had concerns about what was going on, for good reason.

"They chose" to have a look in the defendant's belongings."

Mrs Prior KC stated objects including infant oil, Vaseline and syringes were discovered, and his stepson notified the authorities about his suspicions.

She explained the defendant went on to conduct the "treat game" with six youngsters that night - that Saturday - and they were everyone unwell the following morning.

"The police had not gone out by that time," she added.

The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was examining the police response of the situation.

The legal representative said the minors were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so the stepson notified the police a second time.

She stated the man then conducted the "treat game" in a room of five children.