A man who contaminated candy with sedative and gave them to youngsters at a summer camp in the region has confessed to sexual crimes against two young males who were nine and ten years old.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight minors and an older person became sick at the location in July.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he was present at the judicial center on the end of the week.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was held in detention before a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, detailed the criminal behavior to the judicial body.
She stated his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a summer program which he operated.
Ruben played a "candy game" with the minors, the prosecutor said, in which he would enter the sleeping quarters when they were settling down and tell them to eat sweets "rapidly".
She told the court the man had conducted this practice with the children "for many years", and children had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She stated Ruben had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had worries in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "This year his stepson had concerns about the activities, with valid cause.
"They resolved" to examine in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC said objects including infant oil, Vaseline and injection devices were located, and his stepson alerted the authorities about his concerns.
She said the man continued to engage in the "treat game" with six children that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the following morning.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that point," she added.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was examining law enforcement's management of the situation.
The prosecutor explained the minors were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so the stepson contacted the law enforcement again.
She said the man then engaged in the "sweet game" in a room of five children.
