An individual who contaminated sweets with sleeping medication and gave them to minors at a summer camp in the region has confessed to sexual crimes against two children who were nine and 10.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight youngsters and a grown-up experienced illness at the facility in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he was present at the judicial center on Friday.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was against a young boy.
Ruben was kept in jail ahead of a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, outlined Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She said his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a summer camp which he ran.
The defendant conducted a "treat game" with the children, Mrs Prior explained, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were settling down and ask them to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had played this game with the boys "over an extended period", and children had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She said the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the youngsters being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his family member had concerns in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "In the summer" his family member had suspicions about what was going on, for good reason.
"They chose" to examine in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC stated materials including baby oil, petroleum jelly and syringes were located, and his stepson contacted the authorities about his worries.
She stated Ruben went on to engage in the "candy game" with six children that night - that Saturday - and they were everyone unwell the next day.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that time," she added.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was examining the police response of the situation.
The legal representative explained the youngsters were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so the family member called the police again.
She said the man then conducted the "sweet game" in a room of five children.
