A man who contaminated treats with sedative and distributed them to minors at a summer program in the area has confessed to sexual crimes against two young males both nine and ten years old.
The defendant was arrested after eight youngsters and a grown-up became sick at Stathern Lodge in July.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at the judicial center on Friday.
Yet, he refused to admit one particular crime he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was kept in jail before a subsequent court date on late November.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, detailed Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She said his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were staying at a summer camp which he ran.
Ruben conducted a "candy game" with the youngsters, the prosecutor said, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to ingest treats "as fast as possible".
She told the court the man had engaged in this activity with the young males "repeatedly", and children had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She said the defendant had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his family member had worries in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "In the summer" his stepchild had suspicions about what was going on, for good reason.
"They decided to investigate in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor explained items including infant oil, petroleum jelly and injection devices were located, and his stepchild contacted the police about his suspicions.
She said the man continued to play the "candy game" with six youngsters that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"The police had not arrived by that time," she added.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the situation.
The legal representative explained the youngsters were unable to walk properly due to their sickness, so the family member contacted the authorities once more.
She said the man then played the "sweet game" in a room of five minors.
