A man who spiked sweets with sedative and distributed them to minors at a summer camp in the region has confessed to sexual offences against two boys who were between nine and ten.
The accused was taken into custody after eight minors and a grown-up fell ill at the facility in July.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he stood at the courthouse on Friday.
However, he refused to admit one particular crime he was facing, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
The defendant was remanded in custody before a further hearing on 28 November.
'Candy game'
The prosecutor, presenting evidence, outlined Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She said his targets were under-privileged children who were staying at a summer camp which he operated.
The defendant conducted a "sweet game" with the children, the prosecutor said, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were settling down and ask them to eat sweets "rapidly".
She stated to the judge Ruben had engaged in this activity with the young males "for many years", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the following morning.
She explained Ruben had been capable of justifying this for many years as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his family member had concerns in summer 2025.
The legal representative added: "In the summer" his family member had suspicions about what was going on, justifiably.
"They decided to investigate in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor said objects including baby oil, petroleum jelly and medical needles were found, and his stepson contacted the law enforcement about his worries.
She said the man proceeded to engage in the "treat game" with six children that night - July 26th - and they were all ill the next day.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that stage," she added.
The oversight body, the police conduct office, previously told that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the events.
Mrs Prior stated the children were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so the stepson contacted the police once more.
She stated the man then conducted the "sweet game" in a room of five children.
