A man who contaminated sweets with sedative and provided them to minors at a summer program in the area has admitted sexual crimes against two boys both nine and ten years old.
The accused was taken into custody after eight children and a grown-up became sick at the location in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he stood at the judicial center on Friday.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was against a young boy.
Ruben was held in detention prior to a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, presenting evidence, detailed the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She stated his targets were under-privileged children who were participating in a summer camp which he ran.
Ruben engaged in a "candy game" with the children, the legal counsel explained, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to ingest treats "rapidly".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had conducted this practice with the young males "for many years", and minors had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She stated Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had concerns in July 2025.
The prosecutor continued: "Recently" his family member had worries about what was going on, with valid cause.
"They decided to examine in the individual's items."
The legal counsel explained items including baby oil, petroleum jelly and injection devices were discovered, and his stepson alerted the law enforcement about his concerns.
She said the defendant went on to conduct the "candy game" with six boys that night - that Saturday - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that point," she stated further.
The oversight body, the investigative body, previously told that it was investigating the police response of the events.
The legal representative said the minors were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson called the police once more.
She explained the defendant then conducted the "treat game" in a space of five children.
