A man who contaminated treats with sedative and provided them to minors at a summer program in the region has confessed to sexual offenses against two young males both between nine and ten.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight children and a grown-up experienced illness at the facility in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he stood at the judicial center on Friday.
Nevertheless, he denied one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was kept in jail prior to a subsequent court date on late November.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, described Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She said his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a summer camp which he managed.
The man engaged in a "candy game" with the children, the legal counsel explained, in which he would enter the sleeping quarters when they were settling down and ask them to consume candy "rapidly".
She told the court the man had conducted this practice with the boys "over an extended period", and minors had previously become sick the following morning.
She stated Ruben had been capable of justifying this for many years as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had worries in July 2025.
The legal representative added: "This year his family member had worries about the activities, with valid cause.
"They decided to investigate in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel explained objects including infant oil, petroleum jelly and medical needles were located, and his stepchild notified the law enforcement about his worries.
She said the man went on to play the "candy game" with six boys that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the next day.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that stage," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, had stated that it was reviewing the police response of the situation.
Mrs Prior said the minors were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so the stepson called the police again.
She said Ruben then engaged in the "sweet game" in a room of five children.
