A person who laced candy with sleeping medication and distributed them to minors at a youth camp in the region has confessed to sexual crimes against two boys both nine and ten years old.
The defendant was detained after eight minors and a grown-up fell ill at the location in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he stood at the courthouse on Friday.
Yet, he denied a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was held in detention before a further hearing on November 28th.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, outlined Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She stated his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a summer program which he managed.
The man played a "treat game" with the children, Mrs Prior said, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and request they to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings the man had engaged in this activity with the boys "over an extended period", and children had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She said the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had concerns in summer 2025.
The legal representative continued: "In the summer" his stepson had worries about the situation, justifiably.
"They chose" to examine in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor stated objects including baby oil, Vaseline and medical needles were discovered, and his stepson notified the police about his concerns.
She explained the defendant proceeded to engage in the "candy game" with six youngsters that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that point," she continued.
The regulatory agency, the investigative body, previously told that it was investigating the police response of the situation.
The prosecutor explained the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so the stepson called the authorities once more.
She said the man then conducted the "candy game" in a room of five children.
