A person who laced sweets with sleeping medication and gave them to children at a summer camp in the region has confessed to sexual offenses against two young males aged nine and ten years old.
The accused was taken into custody after eight children and a grown-up fell ill at the facility in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, admitted guilt to a series of 17 offences when he stood at the judicial center on Friday.
Yet, he disputed one particular crime he was charged with, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was held in detention ahead of a further hearing on 28 November.
'Sweet game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, outlined the defendant's actions to the court.
She stated his targets were under-privileged children who were attending a youth camp which he managed.
The defendant conducted a "sweet game" with the minors, the legal counsel stated, in which he would access the sleeping quarters when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She told the court Ruben had conducted this practice with the boys "for many years", and children had previously fallen ill the next day.
She stated Ruben had been capable of justifying this for many years as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his family member had suspicions in recently.
The prosecutor continued: "In the summer" his stepchild had concerns about the activities, with valid cause.
"They chose" to examine in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel stated items including baby oil, petroleum jelly and syringes were located, and his family member notified the police about his worries.
She stated the man went on to play the "candy game" with six children that time - that Saturday - and they were all sick the following morning.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that point," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the incident.
The legal representative stated the minors were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so the family member contacted the authorities again.
She said Ruben then conducted the "candy game" in a room of five children.
