A man who contaminated treats with sleeping medication and gave them to children at a summer camp in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two boys who were between nine and ten.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight children and an older person experienced illness at the location in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at the courthouse on recently.
Yet, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
The defendant was kept in jail before a additional proceeding on late November.
'Sweet game'
The legal representative, handling the case, detailed the criminal behavior to the judicial body.
She explained his those affected were under-privileged children who were attending a summer camp which he managed.
Ruben conducted a "candy game" with the minors, the legal counsel stated, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and tell them to eat sweets "rapidly".
She told the court Ruben had conducted this practice with the boys "for many years", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the following morning.
She said Ruben had been able to explain this over a long period as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had concerns in July 2025.
The prosecutor added: "This year his stepchild had worries about what was going on, justifiably.
"They decided to have a look in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel explained items including lubricant, ointment and injection devices were found, and his stepchild alerted the authorities about his concerns.
She said Ruben continued to play the "candy game" with six children that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the following morning.
"The police had not responded by that stage," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was investigating the police response of the situation.
Mrs Prior stated the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so the stepson notified the police again.
She explained the defendant then engaged in the "sweet game" in a space of five children.
