A person who contaminated candy with tranquilliser and gave them to youngsters at a summer program in the area has admitted sexual offenses against two young males aged nine and ten years old.
The defendant was arrested after eight children and an older person fell ill at the facility in July.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, admitted guilt to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at the judicial center on recently.
However, he disputed a single sexual charge he was facing, which was against a young boy.
The defendant was kept in jail ahead of a additional proceeding on November 28th.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, outlined the defendant's actions to the court.
She said his victims were under-privileged children who were staying at a youth camp which he operated.
Ruben played a "candy game" with the children, the legal counsel stated, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and request they to ingest treats "as fast as possible".
She told the court the man had engaged in this activity with the children "over an extended period", and minors had earlier experienced illness the following morning.
She explained the man had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had suspicions in summer 2025.
The legal representative continued: "In the summer" his family member had concerns about what was going on, justifiably.
"They resolved" to investigate in the defendant's belongings."
The legal counsel said objects including lubricant, petroleum jelly and injection devices were found, and his stepson notified the authorities about his worries.
She explained Ruben went on to play the "sweet game" with six children that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the next day.
"Authorities" had not responded by that point," she continued.
The oversight body, the investigative body, previously told that it was examining the police response of the events.
Mrs Prior stated the children were unable to walk properly due to their condition, so the stepson called the police again.
She stated the defendant then conducted the "treat game" in a space of five youngsters.
