A person who contaminated candy with sedative and distributed them to minors at a youth camp in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two boys aged nine and ten years old.
The defendant was detained after eight minors and an older person fell ill at the facility in July.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he was present at the courthouse on the end of the week.
Yet, he denied a single sexual charge he was facing, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was kept in jail before a additional proceeding on late November.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, outlined Ruben's offending to the court.
She explained his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a summer camp which he ran.
The man engaged in a "treat game" with the minors, the prosecutor said, in which he would enter the sleeping quarters when they were settling down and request they to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".
She told the court Ruben had played this game with the children "over an extended period", and minors had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She said Ruben had been able to explain this for many years as the minors being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had suspicions in summer 2025.
The legal representative continued: "This year his stepson had suspicions about the situation, for good reason.
"They decided to examine in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor said objects including infant oil, ointment and syringes were located, and his stepson notified the police about his suspicions.
She stated Ruben continued to conduct the "treat game" with six youngsters that time - that Saturday - and they were everyone unwell the next day.
"The police had not responded by that point," she continued.
The regulatory agency, the investigative body, earlier informed that it was reviewing the police response of the events.
The legal representative said the youngsters were unable to walk properly due to their sickness, so the family member notified the law enforcement once more.
She stated the defendant then conducted the "treat game" in a space of five children.