An individual who spiked sweets with sedative and distributed them to youngsters at a summer camp in the area has admitted sexual crimes against two boys both nine and ten years old.
The accused was detained after eight youngsters and an older person experienced illness at the facility in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he was present at the courthouse on recently.
Yet, he disputed a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was kept in jail prior to a subsequent court date on late November.
'Candy game'
The prosecutor, presenting evidence, detailed Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She said his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were participating in a summer camp which he operated.
The man conducted a "sweet game" with the children, Mrs Prior explained, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She stated to the judge the defendant had conducted this practice with the children "over an extended period", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She explained Ruben had been capable of justifying this for many years as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his family member had suspicions in July 2025.
The prosecutor continued: "Recently" his stepchild had suspicions about the situation, justifiably.
"They resolved" to examine in the individual's items."
The legal counsel explained items including baby oil, Vaseline and medical needles were discovered, and his stepson alerted the authorities about his suspicions.
She stated the man continued to play the "candy game" with six youngsters that time - July 26th - and they were everyone unwell the next day.
"The police had not gone out by that time," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, earlier informed that it was examining law enforcement's management of the incident.
The prosecutor explained the children were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so the stepson notified the law enforcement again.
She explained the defendant then engaged in the "sweet game" in a room of five youngsters.
