A man who laced candy with tranquilliser and distributed them to youngsters at a summer camp in the region has confessed to sexual offences against two young males both between nine and ten.
The accused was arrested after eight minors and one adult fell ill at the facility in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, 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.
However, he denied one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was concerning a young boy.
Ruben was held in detention ahead of a additional proceeding on late November.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, outlined the defendant's actions to the court.
She stated his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a youth camp which he ran.
Ruben engaged in a "sweet game" with the children, the legal counsel stated, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were settling down and request they to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had conducted this practice with the young males "repeatedly", and youngsters had previously become sick the subsequent day.
She stated Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had worries in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "Recently" his stepson had worries about what was going on, for good reason.
"They resolved" to have a look in the individual's items."
The prosecutor explained items including infant oil, ointment and medical needles were located, and his stepchild alerted the police about his suspicions.
She explained the defendant continued to engage in the "sweet game" with six boys that time - that Saturday - and they were all ill the following morning.
"The police had not responded by that time," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the investigative body, previously told that it was investigating the police response of the incident.
The prosecutor explained the minors were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so the stepson contacted the law enforcement once more.
She stated the defendant then played the "candy game" in a room of five children.
