A person who laced treats with tranquilliser and provided them to children at a youth camp in the region has confessed to sexual offences against two boys both nine and 10.
The defendant was detained after eight youngsters and a grown-up experienced illness at the facility in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he stood at the courthouse on recently.
However, he denied one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was against a young boy.
Ruben was held in detention ahead of a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Sweet game'
The legal representative, handling the case, detailed the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She said his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were staying at a summer program which he operated.
Ruben engaged in a "candy game" with the children, the prosecutor stated, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She stated to the judge Ruben had conducted this practice with the young males "for many years", and minors had previously become sick the next day.
She stated Ruben had been able to explain this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had suspicions in July 2025.
The legal representative added: "Recently" his family member had worries about the activities, with valid cause.
"They decided to have a look in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel stated items including baby oil, Vaseline and medical needles were discovered, and his stepchild alerted the police about his suspicions.
She explained the defendant went on to engage in the "sweet game" with six children that evening - that Saturday - and they were everyone unwell the next day.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that point," she stated further.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the situation.
The prosecutor said the youngsters were unable to walk properly due to their condition, so the stepson contacted the law enforcement once more.
She said the defendant then played the "sweet game" in a room of five children.
