An individual who contaminated candy with sleeping medication and gave them to minors at a youth camp in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two young males aged between nine and ten.
The defendant was arrested after eight youngsters and an older person became sick at the facility in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he was present at the judicial center on recently.
Yet, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was held in detention ahead of a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, detailed the defendant's actions to the court.
She said his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were staying at a summer program which he ran.
Ruben conducted a "candy game" with the minors, the prosecutor stated, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and request they to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had engaged in this activity with the young males "for many years", and minors had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She stated Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had suspicions in summer 2025.
The prosecutor stated further: "Recently" his stepson had suspicions about the activities, justifiably.
"They decided to examine in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC explained objects including baby oil, Vaseline and syringes were located, and his family member contacted the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She stated the defendant went on to play the "sweet game" with six children that time - that Saturday - and they were everyone unwell the following morning.
"The police had not arrived by that point," she continued.
The regulatory agency, the investigative body, had stated that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the incident.
The legal representative stated the children were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson notified the authorities again.
She said Ruben then conducted the "sweet game" in a space of five minors.
