A person who spiked treats with sleeping medication and provided them to minors at a summer program in the region has confessed to sexual offenses against two children who were nine and ten years old.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight youngsters and one adult experienced illness at the facility in July.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he stood at the courthouse on the end of the week.
However, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was kept in jail prior to a further hearing on late November.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, described the criminal behavior to the court.
She stated his victims were under-privileged children who were attending a summer camp which he operated.
The defendant conducted a "candy game" with the children, the legal counsel stated, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to eat sweets "rapidly".
She stated to the judge the man had conducted this practice with the children "for many years", and children had previously become sick the next day.
She stated the man had been able to explain this repeatedly as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had concerns in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC continued: "This year his family member had suspicions about the activities, for good reason.
"They chose" to investigate in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel said items including infant oil, petroleum jelly and medical needles were discovered, and his family member alerted the police about his concerns.
She explained Ruben proceeded to engage in the "candy game" with six children that night - July 26th - and they were all sick the following morning.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that stage," she added.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, earlier informed that it was examining law enforcement's management of the situation.
Mrs Prior stated the children were struggling to walk due to their condition, so the stepson called the police a second time.
She stated the man then engaged in the "sweet game" in a space of five children.
