An individual who laced treats with sedative and gave them to children at a summer program in the region has admitted sexual crimes against two children who were nine and ten years old.
The defendant was arrested after eight minors and one adult fell ill at the facility in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, admitted guilt to a series of 17 offences when he stood at the courthouse on the end of the week.
However, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was involving a young boy.
Ruben was kept in jail before a further hearing on late November.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, detailed the criminal behavior to the judicial body.
She stated his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a summer camp which he ran.
Ruben conducted a "sweet game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel explained, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and tell them to consume candy "rapidly".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had engaged in this activity with the children "over an extended period", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She stated the man had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had worries in summer 2025.
The prosecutor added: "Recently" his stepchild had concerns about what was going on, for good reason.
"They chose" to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
Mrs Prior KC said items including lubricant, ointment and syringes were discovered, and his stepson alerted the authorities about his concerns.
She explained the man went on to engage in the "candy game" with six youngsters that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not gone out by that stage," she added.
The oversight body, the investigative body, previously told that it was reviewing the police response of the incident.
The prosecutor stated the children were unable to walk properly due to their sickness, so the stepson called the law enforcement again.
She stated the defendant then engaged in the "candy game" in a room of five minors.
