A man who contaminated sweets with sleeping medication and distributed them to minors at a summer camp in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two young males both between nine and ten.
The accused was detained after eight children and a grown-up became sick at the location in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at the judicial center on Friday.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was remanded in custody before a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, described the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She stated his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a summer program which he ran.
The defendant played a "treat game" with the children, the legal counsel stated, in which he would access the sleeping quarters when they were settling down and tell them to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had engaged in this activity with the children "over an extended period", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She stated Ruben had been able to explain this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had concerns in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC continued: "This year his stepson had worries about what was going on, for good reason.
"They resolved" to examine in the individual's items."
The legal counsel said objects including infant oil, Vaseline and injection devices were discovered, and his stepchild notified the authorities about his suspicions.
She said the defendant went on to engage in the "treat game" with six youngsters that night - that Saturday - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"The police had not responded by that point," she continued.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, had stated that it was examining the police response of the incident.
Mrs Prior explained the children were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so the family member notified the law enforcement once more.
She explained Ruben then engaged in the "treat game" in a room of five children.
