An individual who contaminated treats with sedative and distributed them to children at a youth camp in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two boys who were nine and ten years old.
The defendant was arrested after eight minors and a grown-up fell ill at the facility in July.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, admitted guilt to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at the courthouse on recently.
Yet, he denied a single sexual charge he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was held in detention ahead of a further hearing on late November.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, detailed the defendant's actions to the court.
She stated his victims were under-privileged children who were participating in a youth camp which he ran.
Ruben conducted a "treat game" with the children, the prosecutor stated, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She told the court the defendant had conducted this practice with the children "over an extended period", and youngsters had previously become sick the next day.
She said the man had been capable of justifying this for many years as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had concerns in July 2025.
The legal representative continued: "In the summer" his stepson had concerns about the activities, with valid cause.
"They chose" to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
Mrs Prior KC explained items including baby oil, petroleum jelly and syringes were discovered, and his stepchild notified the authorities about his suspicions.
She said the defendant went on to play the "treat game" with six youngsters that evening - July 26th - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that time," she continued.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was examining law enforcement's management of the incident.
The prosecutor stated the minors were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so Ruben's stepson contacted the police once more.
She stated Ruben then engaged in the "treat game" in a area of five children.
