An individual who laced sweets with sedative and distributed them to children at a summer camp in the region has admitted sexual crimes against two boys aged nine and ten years old.
The defendant was arrested after eight children and an older person became sick at the location in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at the judicial center on recently.
However, he refused to admit one particular crime he was accused of, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was held in detention ahead of a subsequent court date on 28 November.
'Candy game'
The prosecutor, presenting evidence, described the criminal behavior to the judicial body.
She stated his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were staying at a youth camp which he operated.
The man conducted a "treat game" with the youngsters, the prosecutor explained, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and request they to eat sweets "rapidly".
She stated to the judge the man had played this game with the boys "for many years", and minors had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She explained Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had concerns in July 2025.
The prosecutor continued: "In the summer" his stepchild had worries about what was going on, with valid cause.
"They chose" to have a look in the individual's items."
The prosecutor explained objects including infant oil, Vaseline and injection devices were found, and his family member alerted the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She stated the defendant continued to engage in the "candy game" with six children that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the following morning.
"The police had not arrived by that point," she stated further.
The oversight body, the police conduct office, previously told that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the events.
The legal representative stated the minors were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so the stepson called the police a second time.
She explained the man then engaged in the "candy game" in a area of five children.
