An individual who spiked sweets with tranquilliser and provided them to youngsters at a youth camp in the area has confessed to sexual crimes against two boys both nine and ten years old.
The accused was arrested after eight minors and a grown-up became sick at the facility in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at the courthouse on Friday.
Yet, he denied one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was held in detention ahead of a additional proceeding on November 28th.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, described the defendant's actions to the court.
She stated his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a summer program which he ran.
Ruben engaged in a "sweet game" with the children, the prosecutor explained, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and request they to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She told the court the defendant had conducted this practice with the children "for many years", and minors had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She stated the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had concerns in July 2025.
The prosecutor continued: "In the summer" his stepson had worries about what was going on, justifiably.
"They chose" to investigate in the defendant's belongings."
Mrs Prior KC said objects including lubricant, ointment and syringes were located, and his stepchild notified the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She explained Ruben continued to play the "treat game" with six youngsters that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the next day.
"Authorities" had not responded by that stage," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the investigative body, previously told that it was examining law enforcement's management of the incident.
Mrs Prior explained the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson called the law enforcement again.
She explained the defendant then conducted the "treat game" in a area of five children.
