A person who contaminated candy with sedative and provided them to minors at a summer camp in the area has admitted sexual offences against two young males both nine and ten years old.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight children and an older person experienced illness at the location in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he stood at the judicial center on recently.
However, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was involving a young boy.
The accused was held in detention before a further hearing on late November.
'Sweet game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, outlined the defendant's actions to the court.
She explained his targets were under-privileged children who were staying at a summer program which he managed.
The man conducted a "candy game" with the children, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and tell them to consume candy "rapidly".
She stated to the judge the defendant had engaged in this activity with the boys "over an extended period", and minors had previously become sick the subsequent day.
She explained Ruben had been able to explain this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had concerns in summer 2025.
The legal representative stated further: "In the summer" his stepson had worries about the situation, for good reason.
"They chose" to investigate in the individual's items."
The legal counsel said objects including baby oil, petroleum jelly and syringes were discovered, and his stepson notified the authorities about his concerns.
She stated the man went on to engage in the "treat game" with six children that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the following morning.
"Authorities" had not responded by that point," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, previously told that it was examining the police response of the incident.
Mrs Prior explained the youngsters were unable to walk properly due to their condition, so the stepson contacted the authorities a second time.
She stated Ruben then conducted the "candy game" in a room of five youngsters.
