🔗 Share this article Man pleads guilty to sexual crimes against boys at youth camp The defendant pleaded guilty to 17 charges at the judicial center on recently A person who contaminated candy with sleeping medication and provided them to children at a summer camp in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual offences against two children aged nine and ten years old. The accused was detained after eight youngsters and one adult fell ill at the facility in the summer month. The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on Friday. Yet, he denied one particular crime he was charged with, which was involving a nine-year-old boy. The accused was kept in jail prior to a further hearing on late November. 'Candy game' The legal representative, handling the case, outlined the defendant's actions to the judicial body. She stated his those affected were disadvantaged youngsters who were staying at a youth camp which he managed. The defendant conducted a "candy game" with the minors, Mrs Prior explained, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were settling down and tell them to ingest treats "as fast as possible". She stated to the judge the man had conducted this practice with the young males "for many years", and minors had previously become sick the next day. She said the man had been able to explain this over a long period as the youngsters being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had worries in July 2025. Mrs Prior KC continued: "In the summer" his family member had concerns about what was going on, for good reason. "They chose" to examine in the individual's items." The prosecutor explained items including lubricant, petroleum jelly and injection devices were located, and his stepchild alerted the police about his worries. She explained the defendant continued to play the "candy game" with six children that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the following morning. "Law enforcement" had not gone out by that stage," she continued. The regulatory agency, the investigative body, earlier informed that it was investigating Leicestershire Police's handling of the events. Mrs Prior explained the children were struggling to walk due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson notified the police once more. She said the man then conducted the "sweet game" in a room of five minors.