A man who contaminated sweets with sedative and distributed them to minors at a youth camp in the area has confessed to sexual offenses against two young males who were nine and 10.
The accused was taken into custody after eight minors and one adult became sick at the facility in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he stood at the courthouse on recently.
Nevertheless, he disputed one particular crime he was accused of, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
The defendant was kept in jail ahead of a additional proceeding on November 28th.
'Candy game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, outlined the defendant's actions to the court.
She stated his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a summer program which he ran.
The man played a "sweet game" with the children, the prosecutor explained, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She stated to the judge the defendant had engaged in this activity with the children "over an extended period", and minors had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She explained Ruben had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had suspicions in July 2025.
The prosecutor added: "This year his stepson had concerns about the activities, justifiably.
"They decided to examine in the individual's items."
The legal counsel stated items including baby oil, Vaseline and syringes were found, and his family member notified the authorities about his concerns.
She said the defendant proceeded to play the "candy game" with six boys that night - that Saturday - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that stage," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, had stated that it was investigating the police response of the incident.
The prosecutor stated the minors were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so the family member contacted the law enforcement once more.
She said the defendant then played the "treat game" in a room of five youngsters.
