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A man who spiked sweets with sedative and distributed them to children at a summer camp in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual offences against two children aged nine and ten years old.

The defendant was detained after eight youngsters and an older person became sick at the location in the summer month.

The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, admitted guilt to a series of 17 offences when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.

However, he refused to admit one particular crime he was accused of, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.

The defendant was remanded in custody ahead of a subsequent court date on 28 November.

'Treat game'

The prosecutor, handling the case, detailed Ruben's offending to the judicial body.

She said his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a summer program which he ran.

The defendant conducted a "treat game" with the minors, Mrs Prior explained, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were settling down and tell them to consume candy "as quickly as they can".

She stated to the judge the man had played this game with the children "over an extended period", and youngsters had previously become sick the subsequent day.

She explained the man had been able to explain this for many years as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had worries in summer 2025.

The legal representative stated further: "Recently" his family member had concerns about what was going on, justifiably.

"They decided to examine in the defendant's belongings."

The prosecutor explained items including lubricant, Vaseline and syringes were discovered, and his stepchild alerted the police about his suspicions.

She said the defendant proceeded to conduct the "treat game" with six boys that time - that Saturday - and they were everyone unwell the next day.

"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that time," she stated further.

The police watchdog, the police conduct office, had stated that it was examining the police response of the events.

Mrs Prior said the children were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so the family member called the law enforcement once more.

She stated the man then engaged in the "candy game" in a room of five minors.