A man who spiked sweets with sedative and distributed them to minors at a summer camp in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two boys both nine and ten years old.
The defendant was detained after eight youngsters and a grown-up experienced illness at the facility in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he was present at the judicial center on recently.
Yet, he denied one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was held in detention ahead of a additional proceeding on November 28th.
'Sweet game'
The legal representative, handling the case, described the criminal behavior to the legal proceedings.
She stated his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a summer program which he ran.
The man conducted a "candy game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel stated, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and ask them to ingest treats "rapidly".
She told the court Ruben had engaged in this activity with the children "over an extended period", and children had earlier experienced illness the following morning.
She stated the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had suspicions in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC continued: "In the summer" his stepson had concerns about the activities, justifiably.
"They decided to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
Mrs Prior KC stated items including baby oil, petroleum jelly and injection devices were located, and his stepson contacted the authorities about his suspicions.
She stated the man proceeded to conduct the "sweet game" with six children that evening - July 26th - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"The police had not gone out by that time," she added.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was examining the police response of the situation.
The legal representative explained the children were struggling to walk due to their condition, so the stepson called the authorities a second time.
She explained the defendant then played the "sweet game" in a space of five minors.
