A man who laced candy with sedative and gave them to children at a summer camp in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two children aged between nine and ten.
The defendant was arrested after eight children and one adult became sick at the facility in the summer month.
The elderly man, 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.
Nevertheless, he disputed one particular crime he was charged with, which was involving a young boy.
The defendant was remanded in custody ahead of a further hearing on November 28th.
'Sweet game'
The legal representative, presenting evidence, detailed Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She explained his targets were under-privileged children who were attending a summer camp which he managed.
The man conducted a "treat game" with the minors, the prosecutor said, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had played this game with the children "over an extended period", and minors had earlier experienced illness the following morning.
She explained the man had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had worries in summer 2025.
The prosecutor stated further: "Recently" his family member had suspicions about the situation, with valid cause.
"They chose" to examine in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC explained materials including infant oil, ointment and medical needles were discovered, and his stepson contacted the authorities about his concerns.
She stated the defendant proceeded to play the "treat game" with six children that night - July 26th - and they were all sick the next day.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that stage," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the events.
The legal representative explained the children were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so the stepson called the authorities once more.
She explained the defendant then played the "candy game" in a room of five children.
