A person who contaminated candy with sleeping medication and distributed them to youngsters at a summer camp in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two boys aged nine and ten years old.
The accused was taken into custody after eight minors and a grown-up experienced illness at the location in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he stood at the judicial center on Friday.
However, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was against a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was remanded in custody prior to a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, detailed Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She explained his those affected were under-privileged children who were staying at a youth camp which he managed.
The defendant played a "candy game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".
She told the court the defendant had played this game with the children "for many years", and children had previously fallen ill the next day.
She stated the defendant had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had concerns in summer 2025.
The prosecutor added: "Recently" his family member had worries about the situation, justifiably.
"They chose" to have a look in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC stated items including infant oil, Vaseline and syringes were found, and his stepchild notified the police about his worries.
She explained the man continued to conduct the "sweet game" with six boys that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the next day.
"The police had not responded by that point," she stated further.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the incident.
The legal representative stated the children were unable to walk properly due to their condition, so Ruben's stepson called the law enforcement once more.
She stated Ruben then conducted the "sweet game" in a room of five minors.
