A person who contaminated treats with tranquilliser and gave them to minors at a youth camp in the area has admitted sexual offenses against two boys who were nine and ten years old.
The defendant was arrested after eight youngsters and one adult became sick at the location in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he stood at the judicial center on recently.
Yet, he denied a single sexual charge he was facing, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was remanded in custody prior to a additional proceeding on late November.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, presenting evidence, described the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She stated his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a summer program which he ran.
The man conducted a "candy game" with the youngsters, the prosecutor explained, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and ask them to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She told the court the man had conducted this practice with the children "over an extended period", and minors had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She stated the man had been able to explain this over a long period as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had suspicions in July 2025.
The prosecutor added: "In the summer" his family member had worries about the situation, justifiably.
"They chose" to have a look in the individual's items."
The prosecutor said objects including baby oil, Vaseline and medical needles were found, and his family member contacted the law enforcement about his worries.
She said Ruben proceeded to conduct the "candy game" with six youngsters that night - that Saturday - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that point," she stated further.
The oversight body, the police conduct office, previously told that it was examining the police response of the events.
The prosecutor said the children were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so the stepson notified the authorities once more.
She said the man then played the "treat game" in a area of five children.
