An individual who spiked candy with sedative and provided them to youngsters at a summer camp in the region has admitted sexual offenses against two children both nine and ten years old.
The accused was detained after eight minors and one adult experienced illness at the facility in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at the judicial center on the end of the week.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was kept in jail prior to a subsequent court date on late November.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, outlined Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She explained his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a summer camp which he operated.
The defendant conducted a "candy game" with the minors, the prosecutor said, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were settling down and request they to eat sweets "rapidly".
She stated to the judge the defendant had engaged in this activity with the boys "for many years", and minors had previously become sick the next day.
She stated Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had concerns in July 2025.
The prosecutor added: "In the summer" his stepchild had worries about the activities, justifiably.
"They chose" to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
Mrs Prior KC explained items including baby oil, Vaseline and syringes were found, and his family member alerted the police about his suspicions.
She explained Ruben went on to conduct the "candy game" with six youngsters that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not gone out by that stage," she stated further.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the situation.
The legal representative said the children were struggling to walk due to their condition, so the family member called the police again.
She explained Ruben then conducted the "sweet game" in a area of five minors.
