An individual who spiked candy with tranquilliser and provided them to minors at a summer program in the area has confessed to sexual offences against two boys both nine and 10.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight children and a grown-up experienced illness at the location in July.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, admitted guilt to a total of 17 charges when he was present at the courthouse on the end of the week.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was held in detention prior to a additional proceeding on November 28th.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, outlined the defendant's actions to the court.
She said his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a summer camp which he operated.
The defendant played a "sweet game" with the minors, the legal counsel stated, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and ask them to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She told the court Ruben had conducted this practice with the children "for many years", and minors had previously become sick the following morning.
She explained Ruben had been able to explain this over a long period as the youngsters being "overstimulated by activities", until his family member had suspicions in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "Recently" his stepson had worries about the situation, with valid cause.
"They chose" to have a look in the individual's items."
The prosecutor stated objects including lubricant, Vaseline and injection devices were found, and his family member contacted the police about his concerns.
She said the defendant went on to play the "treat game" with six youngsters that time - that Saturday - and they were all sick the next day.
"The police had not arrived by that point," she added.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the events.
Mrs Prior said the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson called the authorities a second time.
She explained the man then played the "sweet game" in a room of five children.
