An individual who laced candy with sedative and gave them to youngsters at a summer camp in the area has admitted sexual offenses against two boys both between nine and ten.
The defendant was arrested after eight children and one adult became sick at Stathern Lodge in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he was present at the judicial center on Friday.
However, he denied one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was remanded in custody before a subsequent court date on 28 November.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, described the criminal behavior to the court.
She explained his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a summer camp which he managed.
Ruben conducted a "candy game" with the children, the prosecutor said, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and request they to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She told the court the defendant had conducted this practice with the young males "over an extended period", and minors had previously become sick the subsequent day.
She stated the man had been able to explain this repeatedly as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had suspicions in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "This year his family member had suspicions about what was going on, for good reason.
"They chose" to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
Mrs Prior KC said objects including baby oil, ointment and syringes were discovered, and his stepson alerted the police about his worries.
She said Ruben continued to conduct the "sweet game" with six youngsters that evening - that Saturday - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not gone out by that stage," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the investigative body, previously told that it was reviewing the police response of the incident.
The legal representative said the minors were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so the stepson notified the law enforcement once more.
She said the man then engaged in the "candy game" in a room of five youngsters.
