An individual who laced treats with tranquilliser and gave them to youngsters at a summer camp in the region has confessed to sexual offences against two children aged nine and ten years old.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight children and an older person became sick at the facility in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at the judicial center on Friday.
Yet, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was held in detention prior to a further hearing on 28 November.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, described the criminal behavior to the legal proceedings.
She explained his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a summer camp which he ran.
The man engaged in a "sweet game" with the minors, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had played this game with the young males "repeatedly", and minors had previously become sick the following morning.
She said the man had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his family member had concerns in July 2025.
The legal representative continued: "Recently" his stepchild had suspicions about what was going on, for good reason.
"They chose" to investigate in the defendant's belongings."
The legal counsel stated items including lubricant, ointment and medical needles were discovered, and his stepchild notified the authorities about his suspicions.
She said the defendant went on to conduct the "candy game" with six youngsters that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not gone out by that stage," she added.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, previously told that it was examining the police response of the events.
The legal representative stated the youngsters were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson notified the police again.
She stated the defendant then engaged in the "sweet game" in a area of five youngsters.
