An individual who contaminated treats with sleeping medication and gave them to children at a summer camp in the area has confessed to sexual offences against two young males who were nine and ten years old.
The accused was taken into custody after eight youngsters and a grown-up fell ill at Stathern Lodge in July.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at the courthouse on recently.
Yet, he disputed one particular crime he was charged with, which was against a nine-year-old child.
The accused was kept in jail prior to a additional proceeding on November 28th.
'Sweet game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, described the criminal behavior to the legal proceedings.
She stated his victims were under-privileged children who were staying at a youth camp which he ran.
The man engaged in a "treat game" with the children, the prosecutor said, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and tell them to ingest treats "as fast as possible".
She told the court Ruben had conducted this practice with the young males "for many years", and children had previously become sick the subsequent day.
She said Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had concerns in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "This year his stepchild had concerns about what was going on, justifiably.
"They resolved" to investigate in the defendant's belongings."
The legal counsel said objects including lubricant, ointment and injection devices were located, and his stepchild notified the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She stated Ruben went on to conduct the "sweet game" with six children that evening - July 26th - and they were all ill the next day.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that stage," she continued.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, previously told that it was examining the police response of the events.
The legal representative stated the youngsters were unable to walk properly due to their sickness, so the stepson called the authorities again.
She stated the defendant then engaged in the "candy game" in a space of five minors.
