An individual who laced candy with sedative and provided them to minors at a summer program in the region has confessed to sexual offenses against two young males both nine and ten years old.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight children and one adult experienced illness at the facility in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he was present at the judicial center on Friday.
However, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was held in detention prior to a further hearing on 28 November.
'Sweet game'
The legal representative, handling the case, outlined Ruben's offending to the court.
She stated his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a summer program which he operated.
The man conducted a "treat game" with the children, the legal counsel stated, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She told the court the defendant had conducted this practice with the boys "over an extended period", and minors had previously fallen ill the next day.
She stated the man had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had worries in summer 2025.
The prosecutor added: "In the summer" his stepchild had concerns about the situation, for good reason.
"They resolved" to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
Mrs Prior KC stated materials including infant oil, Vaseline and injection devices were found, and his stepchild contacted the law enforcement about his worries.
She explained the defendant proceeded to engage in the "sweet game" with six children that evening - July 26th - and they were all ill the next day.
"The police had not gone out by that time," she added.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was reviewing the police response of the incident.
Mrs Prior explained the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so the stepson contacted the authorities once more.
She explained the defendant then engaged in the "sweet game" in a space of five youngsters.
