A person who spiked treats with sedative and provided them to youngsters at a summer program in the area has confessed to sexual offences against two boys who were between nine and ten.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight youngsters and an older person became sick at the facility in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, admitted guilt to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at the courthouse on recently.
However, he refused to admit one particular crime he was accused of, which was against a young boy.
The accused was held in detention before a additional proceeding on late November.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, detailed Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She stated his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a summer camp which he ran.
Ruben played a "candy game" with the children, the legal counsel stated, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and request they to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She stated to the judge the defendant had played this game with the young males "for many years", and youngsters had previously become sick the next day.
She explained Ruben had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had suspicions in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "This year his stepchild had concerns about what was going on, justifiably.
"They chose" to investigate in the individual's items."
The prosecutor said objects including baby oil, ointment and injection devices were found, and his family member contacted the law enforcement about his worries.
She stated the man proceeded to conduct the "sweet game" with six children that time - that Saturday - and they were all ill the following morning.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that stage," she added.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was examining the police response of the events.
The prosecutor said the youngsters were unable to walk properly due to their condition, so the stepson notified the authorities a second time.
She said Ruben then engaged in the "treat game" in a space of five youngsters.
