A person who spiked treats with sleeping medication and distributed them to children at a youth camp in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two children aged between nine and ten.
The accused was taken into custody after eight children and one adult became sick at the location in July.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, admitted guilt to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at the courthouse on recently.
However, he refused to admit one particular crime he was accused of, which was against a young boy.
The accused was kept in jail ahead of a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Sweet game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, described the criminal behavior to the court.
She explained his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were participating in a youth camp which he managed.
Ruben engaged in a "candy game" with the children, Mrs Prior said, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to ingest treats "rapidly".
She told the court Ruben had engaged in this activity with the young males "repeatedly", and youngsters had previously become sick the next day.
She stated the man had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had suspicions in summer 2025.
The legal representative added: "Recently" his stepchild had worries about the situation, justifiably.
"They chose" to examine in the defendant's belongings."
The legal counsel stated materials including baby oil, Vaseline and injection devices were discovered, and his stepchild notified the police about his suspicions.
She said the defendant continued to conduct the "sweet game" with six youngsters that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the following morning.
"The police had not gone out by that point," she continued.
The oversight body, the police conduct office, had stated that it was examining law enforcement's management of the incident.
The legal representative stated the youngsters were struggling to walk due to their condition, so the family member notified the authorities again.
She said the defendant then engaged in the "sweet game" in a room of five children.
