An individual who spiked candy with tranquilliser and provided them to youngsters at a summer camp in the region has confessed to sexual crimes against two young males both between nine and ten.
The accused was taken into custody after eight youngsters and a grown-up fell ill at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, admitted guilt to a series of 17 offences when he was present at the courthouse on the end of the week.
Yet, he denied one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was against a young boy.
The defendant was kept in jail prior to a subsequent court date on late November.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, detailed the defendant's actions to the court.
She explained his those affected were under-privileged children who were staying at a summer program which he managed.
Ruben engaged in a "candy game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior said, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were settling down and tell them to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She stated to the judge Ruben had conducted this practice with the boys "for many years", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the following morning.
She explained Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had concerns in summer 2025.
The legal representative continued: "In the summer" his stepson had concerns about the activities, for good reason.
"They decided to investigate in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC said objects including lubricant, Vaseline and medical needles were located, and his stepchild contacted the police about his worries.
She stated Ruben proceeded to engage in the "treat game" with six children that time - that Saturday - and they were all sick the following morning.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that stage," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the incident.
The prosecutor said the children were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson called the authorities a second time.
She said Ruben then conducted the "candy game" in a space of five children.
