A man who spiked treats with sleeping medication and distributed them to minors at a summer program in the region has confessed to sexual offences against two boys aged nine and 10.
The defendant was detained after eight youngsters and a grown-up fell ill at the location in July.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he was present at the judicial center on recently.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
The accused was kept in jail before a further hearing on late November.
'Sweet game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, detailed the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She stated his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a youth camp which he managed.
Ruben engaged in a "treat game" with the youngsters, the prosecutor explained, in which he would enter the sleeping quarters when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She told the court the man had engaged in this activity with the boys "over an extended period", and youngsters had previously become sick the following morning.
She said Ruben had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the youngsters being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had concerns in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC continued: "Recently" his family member had worries about the activities, with valid cause.
"They resolved" to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor said objects including infant oil, petroleum jelly and medical needles were located, and his family member notified the authorities about his concerns.
She stated the defendant continued to engage in the "sweet game" with six boys that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the following morning.
"The police had not gone out by that point," she added.
The oversight body, the police conduct office, had stated that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the incident.
Mrs Prior said the minors were struggling to walk due to being ill, so the family member called the police a second time.
She explained the defendant then played the "treat game" in a area of five minors.
