A man who contaminated candy with tranquilliser and gave them to minors at a summer camp in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two boys both between nine and ten.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight minors and an older person became sick at Stathern Lodge in July.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he stood at the judicial center on recently.
However, he refused to admit one particular crime he was facing, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was kept in jail before a further hearing on late November.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, presenting evidence, detailed Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She said his those affected were under-privileged children who were staying at a summer program which he operated.
The defendant conducted a "sweet game" with the minors, Mrs Prior said, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She told the court the man had played this game with the children "for many years", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She stated the defendant had been able to explain this for many years as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had concerns in July 2025.
The legal representative added: "In the summer" his stepchild had worries about what was going on, with valid cause.
"They chose" to investigate in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor explained items including lubricant, Vaseline and syringes were found, and his family member alerted the authorities about his concerns.
She explained Ruben went on to engage in the "candy game" with six youngsters that evening - that Saturday - and they were all ill the next day.
"Authorities" had not responded by that time," she stated further.
The oversight body, the investigative body, earlier informed that it was examining law enforcement's management of the situation.
The legal representative explained the minors were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so the family member notified the law enforcement again.
She explained the defendant then played the "candy game" in a space of five youngsters.
