An individual who contaminated treats with sleeping medication and provided them to children at a summer program in the area has admitted sexual crimes against two boys who were between nine and ten.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight minors and an older person fell ill at the facility in July.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, admitted guilt to a total of 17 charges when he stood at the judicial center on recently.
Nevertheless, he denied one particular crime he was facing, which was involving a young boy.
The accused was remanded in custody ahead of a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, detailed the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She explained his targets were under-privileged children who were staying at a summer camp which he ran.
The defendant conducted a "candy game" with the minors, the prosecutor stated, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and tell them to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She stated to the judge the man had conducted this practice with the children "over an extended period", and minors had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She said the man had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his family member had worries in summer 2025.
The legal representative stated further: "In the summer" his stepson had concerns about the situation, for good reason.
"They resolved" to investigate in the defendant's belongings."
Mrs Prior KC said objects including baby oil, petroleum jelly and syringes were found, and his stepchild notified the law enforcement about his concerns.
She stated Ruben proceeded to conduct the "treat game" with six boys that time - that Saturday - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that time," she continued.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was examining the police response of the situation.
Mrs Prior explained the children were struggling to walk due to being ill, so the stepson contacted the authorities a second time.
She stated Ruben then played the "sweet game" in a room of five children.
