An individual who laced candy with sleeping medication and provided them to youngsters at a summer program in the region has confessed to sexual offences against two boys aged between nine and ten.
The accused was taken into custody after eight youngsters and a grown-up became sick at the location in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, admitted guilt to a total of 17 charges when he stood at the courthouse on Friday.
Yet, he denied a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
The accused was remanded in custody before a additional proceeding on late November.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, outlined Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She explained his targets were under-privileged children who were participating in a summer camp which he ran.
The man engaged in a "treat game" with the youngsters, the prosecutor said, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to eat sweets "rapidly".
She told the court the man had played this game with the children "over an extended period", and children had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She said Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had suspicions in summer 2025.
The legal representative added: "In the summer" his family member had concerns about the activities, with valid cause.
"They chose" to have a look in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor stated objects including infant oil, Vaseline and syringes were located, and his stepchild alerted the law enforcement about his concerns.
She said the defendant went on to engage in the "sweet game" with six youngsters that evening - that Saturday - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that point," she added.
The regulatory agency, the police conduct office, had stated that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the incident.
The legal representative said the children were struggling to walk due to their condition, so the stepson contacted the police once more.
She stated Ruben then played the "sweet game" in a room of five youngsters.
