An individual who contaminated sweets with tranquilliser and provided them to children at a youth camp in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two young males who were nine and 10.
The defendant was detained after eight youngsters and one adult became sick at the location in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at the judicial center on recently.
However, he denied a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was involving a young boy.
The defendant was remanded in custody ahead of a further hearing on late November.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, handling the case, described the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She stated his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were staying at a summer program which he operated.
The man played a "sweet game" with the children, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were settling down and request they to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had engaged in this activity with the young males "repeatedly", and minors had previously fallen ill the next day.
She said the man had been able to explain this for many years as the youngsters being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had suspicions in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "In the summer" his stepson had concerns about what was going on, justifiably.
"They resolved" to examine in the individual's items."
The prosecutor explained objects including lubricant, ointment and syringes were located, and his stepson notified the police about his worries.
She stated Ruben proceeded to engage in the "sweet game" with six youngsters that time - that Saturday - and they were all ill the following morning.
"Authorities" had not gone out by that point," she added.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the events.
Mrs Prior explained the children were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so the stepson contacted the police once more.
She explained the man then engaged in the "sweet game" in a space of five youngsters.
