A man who contaminated candy with tranquilliser and distributed them to minors at a summer camp in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two boys both between nine and ten.
The accused was detained after eight youngsters and one adult fell ill at the facility in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at the courthouse on Friday.
Nevertheless, he denied one particular crime he was charged with, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
The defendant was remanded in custody ahead of a subsequent court date on late November.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, outlined Ruben's offending to the court.
She explained his those affected were under-privileged children who were participating in a summer camp which he managed.
The defendant conducted a "candy game" with the children, Mrs Prior explained, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were settling down and request they to eat sweets "rapidly".
She stated to the judge the man had played this game with the young males "over an extended period", and children had previously become sick the following morning.
She said the defendant had been able to explain this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had suspicions in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "Recently" his family member had suspicions about the situation, justifiably.
"They chose" to investigate in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC said materials including lubricant, ointment and syringes were discovered, and his stepchild notified the police about his worries.
She said Ruben continued to play the "sweet game" with six youngsters that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not gone out by that time," she continued.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was examining the police response of the incident.
The prosecutor explained the minors were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson called the authorities a second time.
She stated the man then engaged in the "sweet game" in a area of five minors.
