An individual who contaminated treats with tranquilliser and provided them to children at a summer program in the region has admitted sexual offences against two children both nine and ten years old.
The accused was arrested after eight minors and one adult experienced illness at the location in July.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, admitted guilt to a total of 17 charges when he stood at the courthouse on Friday.
However, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was kept in jail before a subsequent court date on late November.
'Sweet game'
The prosecutor, presenting evidence, detailed the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She stated his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a summer program which he operated.
The defendant engaged in a "candy game" with the minors, the prosecutor said, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and request they to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She stated to the judge the defendant had engaged in this activity with the young males "for many years", and youngsters had previously become sick the subsequent day.
She said Ruben had been capable of justifying this for many years as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had concerns in July 2025.
The legal representative stated further: "Recently" his stepchild had worries about the activities, for good reason.
"They decided to have a look in the individual's items."
The legal counsel stated objects including lubricant, Vaseline and medical needles were discovered, and his stepchild alerted the police about his concerns.
She stated the man proceeded to conduct the "candy game" with six boys that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the following morning.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that time," she added.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the events.
The prosecutor explained the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson called the police once more.
She stated Ruben then engaged in the "candy game" in a area of five minors.
