A person who spiked sweets with sleeping medication and distributed them to minors at a summer camp in the area has confessed to sexual offenses against two young males who were between nine and ten.
The accused was arrested after eight youngsters and a grown-up fell ill at Stathern Lodge in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at the courthouse on the end of the week.
Yet, he denied a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was against a nine-year-old child.
The accused was held in detention before a additional proceeding on November 28th.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, handling the case, described the defendant's actions to the court.
She stated his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a summer program which he operated.
Ruben conducted a "sweet game" with the minors, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and tell them to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings the man had conducted this practice with the young males "over an extended period", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the following morning.
She explained the man had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had concerns in July 2025.
The prosecutor added: "Recently" his stepchild had concerns about what was going on, justifiably.
"They decided to investigate in the individual's items."
The prosecutor explained materials including infant oil, ointment and medical needles were discovered, and his family member notified the authorities about his worries.
She said the man went on to conduct the "sweet game" with six children that evening - July 26th - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that point," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was examining law enforcement's management of the events.
Mrs Prior explained the minors were unable to walk properly due to their sickness, so the family member notified the police again.
She explained the defendant then conducted the "candy game" in a space of five youngsters.
