A person who laced sweets with sleeping medication and provided them to minors at a summer program in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two boys who were nine and ten years old.
The defendant was detained after eight minors and an older person fell ill at the location in the summer month.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he was present at the judicial center on Friday.
Yet, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was concerning a young boy.
Ruben was kept in jail prior to a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Sweet game'
The legal representative, handling the case, outlined Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She stated his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a summer camp which he ran.
Ruben engaged in a "sweet game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel stated, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and tell them to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had conducted this practice with the boys "repeatedly", and minors had previously fallen ill the next day.
She explained the man had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had concerns in summer 2025.
The prosecutor stated further: "Recently" his family member had suspicions about the activities, justifiably.
"They chose" to have a look in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC explained objects including lubricant, petroleum jelly and syringes were discovered, and his stepson alerted the authorities about his concerns.
She explained the defendant proceeded to engage in the "treat game" with six children that night - July 26th - and they were all ill the next day.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that point," she continued.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, previously told that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the events.
The prosecutor explained the youngsters were unable to walk properly due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson notified the law enforcement once more.
She stated Ruben then conducted the "treat game" in a space of five youngsters.
