A man who laced treats with sleeping medication and gave them to minors at a summer camp in the area has confessed to sexual offenses against two young males aged nine and ten years old.
The defendant was detained after eight youngsters and an older person became sick at the facility in July.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, admitted guilt to a total of 17 charges when he stood at the judicial center on recently.
Nevertheless, he disputed one particular crime he was charged with, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was held in detention ahead of a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Candy game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, detailed Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She stated his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a youth camp which he ran.
The defendant conducted a "candy game" with the children, the prosecutor stated, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to ingest treats "rapidly".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had engaged in this activity with the boys "for many years", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She stated the defendant had been capable of justifying this for many years as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his family member had suspicions in summer 2025.
The legal representative added: "In the summer" his stepchild had worries about what was going on, with valid cause.
"They chose" to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
The legal counsel stated objects including baby oil, petroleum jelly and medical needles were located, and his family member contacted the police about his suspicions.
She explained Ruben proceeded to engage in the "candy game" with six boys that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not gone out by that stage," she added.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was examining law enforcement's management of the events.
The legal representative explained the youngsters were struggling to walk due to their condition, so the stepson notified the authorities again.
She said the defendant then played the "candy game" in a space of five minors.
