A man who spiked treats with sedative and gave them to children at a summer program in the area has admitted sexual offences against two young males aged nine and ten years old.
The accused was arrested after eight children and an older person became sick at the facility in the summer month.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he was present at the courthouse on the end of the week.
However, he denied one particular crime he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was kept in jail prior to a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, described the criminal behavior to the judicial body.
She said his those affected were disadvantaged youngsters who were participating in a youth camp which he operated.
The man engaged in a "treat game" with the children, the legal counsel stated, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and tell them to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She told the court Ruben had engaged in this activity with the young males "for many years", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the next day.
She explained the man had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had suspicions in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "This year his family member had concerns about the activities, justifiably.
"They decided to have a look in the individual's items."
The legal counsel said items including infant oil, petroleum jelly and medical needles were found, and his stepson alerted the authorities about his concerns.
She stated Ruben proceeded to engage in the "treat game" with six boys that time - that Saturday - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that time," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the investigative body, earlier informed that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the situation.
The prosecutor stated the minors were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so the stepson contacted the authorities again.
She explained Ruben then played the "candy game" in a area of five youngsters.
