A man who laced treats with sedative and distributed them to minors at a summer camp in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two children who were nine and 10.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight youngsters and an older person experienced illness at the facility in July.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at the courthouse on Friday.
However, he denied one particular crime he was facing, which was against a young boy.
Ruben was held in detention before a further hearing on late November.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, detailed the criminal behavior to the legal proceedings.
She explained his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a summer camp which he managed.
The man engaged in a "sweet game" with the minors, the legal counsel explained, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and request they to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She told the court the man had engaged in this activity with the boys "for many years", and youngsters had previously become sick the following morning.
She stated Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had suspicions in summer 2025.
The prosecutor added: "Recently" his stepson had suspicions about what was going on, with valid cause.
"They decided to investigate in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor explained materials including baby oil, petroleum jelly and syringes were located, and his stepson contacted the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She explained the defendant proceeded to conduct the "sweet game" with six youngsters that evening - July 26th - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that point," she added.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, earlier informed that it was reviewing the police response of the situation.
The prosecutor said the minors were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson notified the police again.
She explained the man then played the "treat game" in a area of five children.
