A person who laced candy with sedative and distributed them to youngsters at a summer program in the region has confessed to sexual offenses against two young males who were nine and 10.
The defendant was detained after eight minors and an older person became sick at the location in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at the courthouse on Friday.
Yet, he denied one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
The accused was kept in jail prior to a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, presenting evidence, detailed the criminal behavior to the court.
She said his targets were under-privileged children who were participating in a summer camp which he operated.
The defendant conducted a "treat game" with the children, the legal counsel stated, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were getting ready for bed and request they to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had conducted this practice with the young males "over an extended period", and minors had earlier experienced illness the following morning.
She said Ruben had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had concerns in July 2025.
The legal representative added: "In the summer" his stepson had concerns about what was going on, justifiably.
"They decided to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor stated materials including baby oil, petroleum jelly and injection devices were discovered, and his family member alerted the law enforcement about his worries.
She said the man proceeded to engage in the "sweet game" with six boys that night - July 26th - and they were all ill the next day.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that stage," she continued.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, previously told that it was examining law enforcement's management of the events.
The prosecutor stated the children were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so Ruben's stepson notified the police a second time.
She said the defendant then played the "sweet game" in a space of five children.
