An individual who laced treats with sedative and provided them to youngsters at a summer camp in the area has confessed to sexual offences against two young males aged nine and ten years old.
The accused was taken into custody after eight children and one adult became sick at the facility in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at the courthouse on the end of the week.
Yet, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was kept in jail before a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, detailed the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She said his those affected were under-privileged children who were participating in a youth camp which he managed.
The defendant conducted a "candy game" with the children, Mrs Prior said, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and request they to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had engaged in this activity with the boys "for many years", and minors had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She stated the defendant had been able to explain this for many years as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had concerns in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC continued: "This year his stepchild had worries about the situation, justifiably.
"They decided to examine in the defendant's belongings."
Mrs Prior KC stated items including lubricant, ointment and medical needles were found, and his stepchild alerted the police about his worries.
She said Ruben went on to engage in the "treat game" with six boys that night - that Saturday - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"The police had not responded by that time," she continued.
The regulatory agency, the investigative body, previously told that it was investigating the police response of the events.
The prosecutor stated the children were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so the stepson contacted the police a second time.
She explained the defendant then played the "candy game" in a area of five minors.
