An individual who contaminated sweets with sedative and provided them to minors at a summer camp in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two boys who were nine and 10.
The defendant was detained after eight children and one adult fell ill at the location in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, admitted guilt to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at the courthouse on Friday.
Yet, he disputed one particular crime he was accused of, which was against a nine-year-old child.
The accused was held in detention ahead of a subsequent court date on 28 November.
'Sweet game'
The legal representative, presenting evidence, outlined Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She stated his targets were under-privileged children who were participating in a youth camp which he managed.
The defendant engaged in a "candy game" with the children, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She told the court Ruben had played this game with the boys "for many years", and minors had previously fallen ill the next day.
She said the man had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had worries in July 2025.
The prosecutor added: "Recently" his family member had concerns about the activities, for good reason.
"They decided to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor explained materials including lubricant, Vaseline and medical needles were discovered, and his stepchild notified the police about his concerns.
She stated Ruben continued to engage in the "candy game" with six youngsters that time - July 26th - and they were all ill the next day.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that time," she added.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, previously told that it was investigating the police response of the situation.
Mrs Prior stated the youngsters were struggling to walk due to their condition, so the family member called the authorities again.
She said the man then played the "candy game" in a area of five youngsters.
