An individual who laced sweets with sleeping medication and distributed them to children at a summer camp in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two boys aged between nine and ten.
The accused was taken into custody after eight youngsters and a grown-up experienced illness at the facility in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, admitted guilt to a total of 17 charges when he stood at the judicial center on the end of the week.
Yet, he disputed a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was remanded in custody before a additional proceeding on November 28th.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, detailed Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She explained his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were staying at a youth camp which he operated.
The defendant engaged in a "candy game" with the minors, the legal counsel said, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were settling down and tell them to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".
She told the court the defendant had engaged in this activity with the boys "for many years", and children had previously become sick the following morning.
She explained the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his family member had concerns in July 2025.
The prosecutor stated further: "Recently" his stepchild had worries about what was going on, for good reason.
"They decided to investigate in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC explained items including infant oil, petroleum jelly and injection devices were found, and his stepchild notified the law enforcement about his concerns.
She explained the defendant proceeded to conduct the "sweet game" with six children that time - that Saturday - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not gone out by that point," she added.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was examining law enforcement's management of the events.
The prosecutor said the minors were struggling to walk due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson notified the law enforcement again.
She explained the man then played the "candy game" in a area of five youngsters.
