A person who contaminated sweets with sedative and gave them to children at a summer program in the region has admitted sexual crimes against two young males both nine and 10.
The accused was detained after eight youngsters and an older person experienced illness at the facility in July.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at the judicial center on the end of the week.
Yet, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was remanded in custody prior to a subsequent court date on late November.
'Sweet game'
The prosecutor, presenting evidence, detailed the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She said his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a summer program which he ran.
Ruben played a "sweet game" with the youngsters, the prosecutor stated, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and tell them to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had conducted this practice with the boys "for many years", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She explained the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had concerns in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC added: "Recently" his stepchild had worries about the activities, justifiably.
"They chose" to examine in the defendant's belongings."
The legal counsel said items including infant oil, petroleum jelly and medical needles were found, and his stepchild contacted the authorities about his concerns.
She explained the man went on to play the "candy game" with six children that evening - July 26th - and they were all ill the following morning.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that point," she continued.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was investigating the police response of the incident.
The prosecutor explained the children were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so the stepson called the law enforcement once more.
She stated the defendant then conducted the "candy game" in a area of five children.
