A person who laced candy with sleeping medication and distributed them to children at a youth camp in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two children who were between nine and ten.
The defendant was detained after eight minors and one adult became sick at the location in the summer month.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at the courthouse on Friday.
However, he disputed a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was kept in jail ahead of a further hearing on November 28th.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, detailed the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She explained his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were staying at a youth camp which he managed.
Ruben conducted a "treat game" with the youngsters, the prosecutor said, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to ingest treats "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had engaged in this activity with the boys "over an extended period", and children had previously fallen ill the next day.
She stated Ruben had been capable of justifying this for many years as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had concerns in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "In the summer" his stepson had suspicions about what was going on, for good reason.
"They resolved" to examine in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor explained items including infant oil, ointment and syringes were found, and his stepson notified the law enforcement about his concerns.
She said Ruben continued to play the "sweet game" with six youngsters that night - July 26th - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that time," she added.
The oversight body, the investigative body, previously told that it was examining the police response of the events.
The legal representative said the minors were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so the family member contacted the police a second time.
She stated Ruben then conducted the "treat game" in a area of five minors.
