A person who contaminated candy with sleeping medication and provided them to minors at a youth camp in the area has confessed to sexual crimes against two young males who were nine and 10.
The accused was arrested after eight minors and an older person became sick at Stathern Lodge in the summer month.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he was present at the courthouse on Friday.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit one particular crime he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was held in detention ahead of a subsequent court date on late November.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, outlined the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She said his victims were under-privileged children who were participating in a youth camp which he managed.
Ruben engaged in a "sweet game" with the minors, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and tell them to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had played this game with the young males "repeatedly", and minors had previously become sick the subsequent day.
She explained the defendant had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had concerns in summer 2025.
The prosecutor continued: "In the summer" his stepson had suspicions about what was going on, with valid cause.
"They decided to have a look in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC explained materials including infant oil, petroleum jelly and medical needles were found, and his family member contacted the law enforcement about his concerns.
She explained Ruben went on to play the "sweet game" with six children that night - that Saturday - and they were all ill the following morning.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that stage," she added.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was examining the police response of the incident.
The prosecutor explained the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson contacted the law enforcement once more.
She said Ruben then conducted the "candy game" in a room of five minors.
