An individual who spiked sweets with tranquilliser and provided them to youngsters at a youth camp in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two young males both nine and 10.
The accused was taken into custody after eight children and an older person fell ill at the location in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at the courthouse on recently.
Yet, he denied one particular crime he was charged with, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was kept in jail prior to a further hearing on 28 November.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, handling the case, detailed the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She said his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a youth camp which he ran.
The man engaged in a "sweet game" with the children, the legal counsel said, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to ingest treats "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had conducted this practice with the children "over an extended period", and children had previously become sick the next day.
She stated Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the minors being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had concerns in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC added: "This year his family member had concerns about the activities, justifiably.
"They chose" to investigate in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor explained objects including infant oil, ointment and syringes were discovered, and his stepchild contacted the authorities about his suspicions.
She said the man went on to conduct the "sweet game" with six children that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the next day.
"The police had not arrived by that stage," she continued.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was examining law enforcement's management of the incident.
The prosecutor said the youngsters were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so the family member notified the police a second time.
She explained the defendant then conducted the "candy game" in a area of five children.
