A man who spiked sweets with sedative and provided them to children at a summer camp in the region has confessed to sexual offences against two children aged nine and ten years old.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight minors and one adult fell ill at the facility in the summer month.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, admitted guilt to a series of 17 offences when he was present at the judicial center on recently.
Yet, he denied one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was remanded in custody before a subsequent court date on late November.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, handling the case, outlined Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She said his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a summer program which he ran.
The man engaged in a "candy game" with the children, the prosecutor said, in which he would enter the sleeping quarters when they were preparing to sleep and request they to ingest treats "as fast as possible".
She stated to the judge the man had engaged in this activity with the children "for many years", and youngsters had previously become sick the next day.
She said the man had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the minors being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had suspicions in summer 2025.
The prosecutor continued: "This year his stepson had suspicions about the activities, for good reason.
"They decided to investigate in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor explained materials including infant oil, petroleum jelly and syringes were found, and his stepson notified the police about his suspicions.
She explained the defendant continued to play the "candy game" with six boys that time - that Saturday - and they were all ill the following morning.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that stage," she continued.
The regulatory agency, the investigative body, had stated that it was examining law enforcement's management of the events.
The legal representative said the youngsters were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson notified the law enforcement again.
She explained the defendant then played the "treat game" in a area of five children.