A person who spiked candy with sleeping medication and provided them to children at a youth camp in the region has confessed to sexual crimes against two boys who were between nine and ten.
The accused was detained after eight youngsters and a grown-up fell ill at the location in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at the judicial center on the end of the week.
However, he refused to admit one particular crime he was facing, which was concerning a young boy.
The defendant was remanded in custody ahead of a subsequent court date on 28 November.
'Sweet game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, described the criminal behavior to the judicial body.
She said his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were staying at a summer program which he managed.
Ruben conducted a "treat game" with the minors, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to consume candy "rapidly".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had engaged in this activity with the young males "for many years", and minors had previously become sick the following morning.
She explained the man had been able to explain this repeatedly as the minors being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his family member had suspicions in July 2025.
The prosecutor added: "Recently" his family member had suspicions about what was going on, for good reason.
"They chose" to have a look in the individual's items."
The prosecutor stated materials including baby oil, petroleum jelly and medical needles were found, and his stepchild notified the authorities about his worries.
She said Ruben proceeded to conduct the "sweet game" with six youngsters that time - that Saturday - and they were all ill the next day.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that stage," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was examining law enforcement's management of the situation.
The prosecutor said the minors were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so the stepson notified the authorities again.
She explained Ruben then engaged in the "candy game" in a room of five minors.
