A man who spiked candy with tranquilliser and distributed them to minors at a summer camp in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two boys who were nine and 10.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight minors and a grown-up fell ill at the facility in July.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he was present at the courthouse on Friday.
Nevertheless, he denied a single sexual charge he was facing, which was against a nine-year-old child.
The accused was kept in jail ahead of a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Sweet game'
The legal representative, handling the case, outlined the criminal behavior to the judicial body.
She said his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a summer program which he ran.
The defendant conducted a "sweet game" with the youngsters, the prosecutor stated, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and tell them to ingest treats "rapidly".
She told the court Ruben had played this game with the young males "repeatedly", and minors had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She stated the man had been able to explain this over a long period as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had suspicions in summer 2025.
The legal representative continued: "This year his family member had worries about the situation, justifiably.
"They decided to examine in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC explained objects including lubricant, ointment and syringes were discovered, and his stepchild contacted the authorities about his worries.
She explained the defendant proceeded to conduct the "sweet game" with six boys that evening - that Saturday - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that point," she continued.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was examining law enforcement's management of the situation.
The prosecutor stated the children were struggling to walk due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson called the police a second time.
She said Ruben then engaged in the "sweet game" in a area of five children.
