A person who laced sweets with tranquilliser and provided them to children at a youth camp in the area has confessed to sexual offenses against two children both nine and ten years old.
The accused was detained after eight youngsters and one adult experienced illness at Stathern Lodge in July.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, admitted guilt to a total of 17 charges when he stood at the judicial center on recently.
Yet, he denied a single sexual charge he was facing, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
The accused was kept in jail ahead of a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, described Ruben's offending to the court.
She explained his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a summer program which he ran.
The man conducted a "candy game" with the children, Mrs Prior explained, in which he would enter the sleeping quarters when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had conducted this practice with the boys "for many years", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She said the man had been capable of justifying this for many years as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had suspicions in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC added: "In the summer" his stepson had suspicions about what was going on, for good reason.
"They chose" to examine in the individual's items."
The prosecutor said materials including infant oil, petroleum jelly and medical needles were located, and his stepson contacted the police about his suspicions.
She said Ruben continued to play the "sweet game" with six children that time - July 26th - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"The police had not arrived by that stage," she continued.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was examining the police response of the incident.
The prosecutor said the youngsters were unable to walk properly due to their condition, so the stepson notified the law enforcement once more.
She stated the defendant then engaged in the "treat game" in a room of five youngsters.
