A person who laced sweets with sedative and gave them to children at a summer program in the area has admitted sexual crimes against two children both nine and ten years old.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight youngsters and one adult became sick at the location in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at the judicial center on Friday.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
The defendant was held in detention ahead of a further hearing on November 28th.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, outlined the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She said his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were participating in a summer camp which he ran.
Ruben engaged in a "sweet game" with the minors, the legal counsel stated, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and tell them to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She stated to the judge Ruben had engaged in this activity with the boys "repeatedly", and minors had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She stated the man had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the youngsters being "overstimulated by activities", until his family member had worries in summer 2025.
The legal representative added: "Recently" his family member had worries about the situation, for good reason.
"They decided to have a look in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor said items including infant oil, Vaseline and injection devices were found, and his family member notified the police about his suspicions.
She explained Ruben continued to conduct the "candy game" with six boys that night - that Saturday - and they were all ill the next day.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that stage," she added.
The regulatory agency, the investigative body, earlier informed that it was examining law enforcement's management of the incident.
The prosecutor said the youngsters were struggling to walk due to their condition, so the family member contacted the law enforcement again.
She said the man then played the "sweet game" in a space of five minors.
