A man who spiked treats with sleeping medication and gave them to minors at a youth camp in the region has confessed to sexual offenses against two young males aged nine and ten years old.
The accused was detained after eight minors and one adult fell ill at the location in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he stood at the judicial center on the end of the week.
However, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
The defendant was remanded in custody before a additional proceeding on late November.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, detailed the criminal behavior to the court.
She stated his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a youth camp which he ran.
Ruben conducted a "candy game" with the minors, Mrs Prior said, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and request they to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She stated to the judge Ruben had played this game with the children "for many years", and children had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She said Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had suspicions in summer 2025.
The prosecutor stated further: "This year his family member had worries about what was going on, justifiably.
"They decided to have a look in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC stated items including baby oil, petroleum jelly and medical needles were discovered, and his family member notified the law enforcement about his worries.
She explained Ruben continued to play the "candy game" with six children that night - July 26th - and they were all sick the next day.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that stage," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the police conduct office, earlier informed that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the situation.
The prosecutor said the minors were struggling to walk due to their condition, so the stepson called the police a second time.
She explained Ruben then conducted the "sweet game" in a area of five youngsters.
