A person who laced sweets with sedative and provided them to youngsters at a youth camp in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two boys both nine and 10.
The accused was arrested after eight children and a grown-up fell ill at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he was present at the judicial center on the end of the week.
Yet, he denied one particular crime he was facing, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was kept in jail ahead of a further hearing on late November.
'Sweet game'
The legal representative, presenting evidence, described Ruben's offending to the court.
She explained his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were participating in a youth camp which he managed.
Ruben engaged in a "sweet game" with the children, the legal counsel explained, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and request they to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She stated to the judge the defendant had engaged in this activity with the young males "for many years", and children had previously fallen ill the next day.
She explained the defendant had been capable of justifying this for many years as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had worries in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC continued: "In the summer" his family member had suspicions about the activities, with valid cause.
"They resolved" to examine in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel explained items including baby oil, ointment and medical needles were found, and his stepchild contacted the police about his concerns.
She explained the defendant went on to conduct the "sweet game" with six youngsters that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that point," she added.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was examining law enforcement's management of the events.
Mrs Prior stated the children were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so Ruben's stepson called the authorities again.
She stated the man then played the "candy game" in a room of five youngsters.
