A person who contaminated sweets with sleeping medication and distributed them to minors at a summer camp in the area has confessed to sexual offenses against two young males both between nine and ten.
The accused was detained after eight youngsters and an older person experienced illness at the location in July.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he stood at the courthouse on the end of the week.
Yet, he denied one particular crime he was facing, which was against a nine-year-old child.
The accused was held in detention ahead of a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, detailed the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She said his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a summer camp which he ran.
Ruben played a "treat game" with the minors, the legal counsel said, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to ingest treats "rapidly".
She stated to the judge the man had played this game with the young males "for many years", and youngsters had previously become sick the subsequent day.
She stated the man had been able to explain this over a long period as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had worries in summer 2025.
The prosecutor continued: "In the summer" his stepchild had suspicions about the activities, justifiably.
"They decided to examine in the defendant's belongings."
The legal counsel stated items including baby oil, ointment and medical needles were located, and his family member contacted the law enforcement about his worries.
She explained the man proceeded to conduct the "candy game" with six youngsters that evening - that Saturday - and they were all ill the following morning.
"Authorities" had not gone out by that stage," she continued.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was investigating the police response of the events.
The legal representative said the youngsters were unable to walk properly due to their condition, so Ruben's stepson called the law enforcement once more.
She stated the man then engaged in the "sweet game" in a room of five youngsters.
