An individual who contaminated sweets with sedative and provided them to children at a youth camp in the region has confessed to sexual offenses against two young males aged nine and 10.
The accused was taken into custody after eight children and a grown-up fell ill at the location in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he stood at the judicial center on Friday.
However, he refused to admit one particular crime he was facing, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
The accused was held in detention before a subsequent court date on 28 November.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, presenting evidence, detailed the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She said his those affected were under-privileged children who were attending a youth camp which he operated.
The defendant played a "treat game" with the youngsters, the prosecutor stated, in which he would access the sleeping quarters when they were preparing to sleep and request they to ingest treats "as fast as possible".
She told the court the man had engaged in this activity with the young males "repeatedly", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She said Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had worries in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC added: "This year his stepson had suspicions about what was going on, for good reason.
"They chose" to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
Mrs Prior KC said materials including baby oil, petroleum jelly and injection devices were located, and his stepson alerted the authorities about his worries.
She said the man went on to play the "treat game" with six boys that night - July 26th - and they were all ill the next day.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that stage," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, previously told that it was reviewing the police response of the events.
Mrs Prior said the minors were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so the family member contacted the law enforcement again.
She explained Ruben then played the "candy game" in a room of five minors.
