A person who contaminated treats with sleeping medication and provided them to youngsters at a summer camp in the region has admitted sexual offences against two children aged between nine and ten.
The defendant was arrested after eight youngsters and one adult experienced illness at Stathern Lodge in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he stood at the courthouse on the end of the week.
Yet, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was concerning a young boy.
The accused was remanded in custody ahead of a additional proceeding on late November.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, handling the case, detailed the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She said his those affected were under-privileged children who were staying at a summer program which he ran.
Ruben conducted a "treat game" with the children, the prosecutor said, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were settling down and tell them to eat sweets "rapidly".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had conducted this practice with the children "over an extended period", and minors had previously fallen ill the next day.
She stated the man had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the youngsters being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had worries in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "This year his stepson had worries about the situation, justifiably.
"They decided to investigate in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC said items including baby oil, Vaseline and medical needles were found, and his stepson notified the police about his suspicions.
She stated the defendant went on to play the "treat game" with six boys that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"The police had not arrived by that stage," she added.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was investigating the police response of the events.
Mrs Prior stated the minors were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so the family member notified the law enforcement again.
She said the defendant then conducted the "treat game" in a space of five children.
