A man who laced treats with sedative and gave them to children at a youth camp in the area has admitted sexual crimes against two children who were nine and ten years old.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight minors and one adult fell ill at Stathern Lodge in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, admitted guilt to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at the judicial center on the end of the week.
However, he refused to admit one particular crime he was accused of, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
The accused was kept in jail ahead of a additional proceeding on late November.
'Sweet game'
The prosecutor, presenting evidence, described the defendant's actions to the court.
She explained his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a summer camp which he operated.
Ruben conducted a "sweet game" with the children, the legal counsel said, in which he would access the sleeping quarters when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to consume candy "rapidly".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had conducted this practice with the young males "over an extended period", and children had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She stated Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had suspicions in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "In the summer" his stepchild had concerns about the situation, for good reason.
"They resolved" to investigate in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel stated objects including infant oil, petroleum jelly and medical needles were located, and his stepchild contacted the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She explained the defendant continued to engage in the "treat game" with six boys that time - that Saturday - and they were all sick the next day.
"Authorities" had not gone out by that time," she continued.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the incident.
Mrs Prior stated the children were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so the stepson called the authorities once more.
She explained Ruben then engaged in the "treat game" in a area of five children.
