An individual who spiked treats with sleeping medication and distributed them to children at a summer program in the region has admitted sexual crimes against two boys who were nine and 10.
The defendant was detained after eight youngsters and one adult experienced illness at the location in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at the courthouse on recently.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
The defendant was kept in jail before a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, described the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She explained his victims were under-privileged children who were staying at a summer camp which he ran.
The man played a "treat game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She told the court the man had conducted this practice with the boys "for many years", and minors had previously fallen ill the next day.
She said Ruben had been able to explain this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had worries in July 2025.
The prosecutor continued: "In the summer" his stepson had worries about the situation, with valid cause.
"They chose" to have a look in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC stated materials including infant oil, petroleum jelly and medical needles were discovered, and his family member notified the police about his suspicions.
She explained the man continued to play the "candy game" with six youngsters that time - July 26th - and they were all ill the next day.
"The police had not arrived by that point," she stated further.
The oversight body, the investigative body, previously told that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the events.
The prosecutor explained the children were struggling to walk due to their condition, so the stepson called the police once more.
She stated Ruben then played the "sweet game" in a area of five children.
