A man who laced candy with sleeping medication and provided them to youngsters at a youth camp in the area has confessed to sexual offences against two children who were between nine and ten.
The defendant was arrested after eight children and an older person experienced illness at the location in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at the judicial center on recently.
However, he refused to admit one particular crime he was facing, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
The defendant was kept in jail ahead of a subsequent court date on 28 November.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, detailed Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She said his targets were under-privileged children who were participating in a youth camp which he managed.
Ruben engaged in a "sweet game" with the youngsters, the prosecutor explained, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were settling down and ask them to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had conducted this practice with the young males "for many years", and youngsters had previously become sick the next day.
She stated Ruben had been capable of justifying this for many years as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his family member had suspicions in summer 2025.
The legal representative added: "Recently" his stepchild had worries about the activities, for good reason.
"They decided to have a look in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC stated items including lubricant, petroleum jelly and injection devices were discovered, and his family member notified the law enforcement about his concerns.
She explained the defendant went on to conduct the "treat game" with six youngsters that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not gone out by that point," she added.
The regulatory agency, the investigative body, earlier informed that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the events.
The legal representative stated the youngsters were struggling to walk due to their condition, so the stepson called the police again.
She said Ruben then conducted the "candy game" in a area of five children.
