A man who laced treats with sedative and provided them to youngsters at a youth camp in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two young males who were between nine and ten.
The accused was detained after eight minors and a grown-up became sick at the facility in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he stood at the judicial center on recently.
Yet, he denied one particular crime he was accused of, which was concerning a young boy.
Ruben was kept in jail prior to a further hearing on late November.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, described the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She stated his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a summer camp which he ran.
The defendant played a "candy game" with the minors, the prosecutor explained, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had conducted this practice with the children "repeatedly", and minors had previously fallen ill the next day.
She stated the man had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had concerns in summer 2025.
The prosecutor added: "Recently" his family member had suspicions about what was going on, justifiably.
"They decided to have a look in the individual's items."
The prosecutor explained items including lubricant, Vaseline and medical needles were found, and his stepchild notified the law enforcement about his worries.
She said the man went on to engage in the "candy game" with six boys that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the following morning.
"Authorities" had not responded by that stage," she added.
The regulatory agency, the police conduct office, had stated that it was reviewing the police response of the incident.
Mrs Prior stated the youngsters were unable to walk properly due to their sickness, so the stepson contacted the law enforcement once more.
She said the defendant then conducted the "sweet game" in a area of five minors.
