An individual who spiked sweets with sleeping medication and provided them to children at a youth camp in the area has confessed to sexual crimes against two young males who were nine and ten years old.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight youngsters and an older person experienced illness at the facility in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, admitted guilt to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at the courthouse on the end of the week.
Yet, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was held in detention before a additional proceeding on November 28th.
'Sweet game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, detailed Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She said his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a summer program which he ran.
The defendant played a "treat game" with the minors, Mrs Prior said, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were settling down and ask them to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had conducted this practice with the children "repeatedly", and children had previously become sick the subsequent day.
She said Ruben had been able to explain this for many years as the youngsters being "overstimulated by activities", until his family member had worries in July 2025.
The legal representative continued: "Recently" his stepson had concerns about the situation, justifiably.
"They chose" to investigate in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel stated items including infant oil, Vaseline and injection devices were discovered, and his family member notified the authorities about his concerns.
She said the defendant proceeded to engage in the "treat game" with six children that time - that Saturday - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that time," she continued.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, earlier informed that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the incident.
Mrs Prior explained the children were unable to walk properly due to their condition, so the stepson contacted the law enforcement a second time.
She explained the defendant then conducted the "treat game" in a space of five children.
