An individual who contaminated treats with sedative and gave them to children at a youth camp in the region has confessed to sexual offences against two young males aged nine and ten years old.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight youngsters and a grown-up experienced illness at the facility in July.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at the judicial center on Friday.
Yet, he denied one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was against a nine-year-old child.
The defendant was held in detention prior to a further hearing on late November.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, outlined the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She explained his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a summer program which he managed.
Ruben conducted a "candy game" with the minors, the legal counsel said, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and request they to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".
She stated to the judge Ruben had engaged in this activity with the children "over an extended period", and children had previously become sick the next day.
She explained the defendant had been able to explain this for many years as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had suspicions in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "Recently" his family member had worries about the situation, with valid cause.
"They chose" to examine in the defendant's belongings."
The legal counsel stated objects including baby oil, ointment and medical needles were discovered, and his family member alerted the law enforcement about his worries.
She explained the man proceeded to engage in the "treat game" with six children that night - that Saturday - and they were everyone unwell the following morning.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that stage," she added.
The oversight body, the investigative body, previously told that it was reviewing the police response of the situation.
The legal representative said the children were struggling to walk due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson notified the authorities again.
She explained the man then played the "candy game" in a area of five children.
