A man who laced treats with tranquilliser and gave them to minors at a summer camp in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two children both nine and ten years old.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight youngsters and an older person experienced illness at the location in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he stood at the judicial center on Friday.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was remanded in custody ahead of a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, outlined the criminal behavior to the legal proceedings.
She said his targets were under-privileged children who were attending a summer camp which he ran.
Ruben conducted a "sweet game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel said, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to ingest treats "as fast as possible".
She stated to the judge the defendant had engaged in this activity with the young males "for many years", and children had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She explained the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had suspicions in July 2025.
The legal representative continued: "Recently" his stepchild had worries about the activities, with valid cause.
"They chose" to have a look in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel explained items including lubricant, Vaseline and injection devices were located, and his family member alerted the authorities about his suspicions.
She stated the man continued to play the "treat game" with six children that evening - that Saturday - and they were all sick the following morning.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that stage," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, earlier informed that it was examining law enforcement's management of the events.
Mrs Prior explained the children were struggling to walk due to their condition, so Ruben's stepson called the law enforcement once more.
She stated Ruben then conducted the "candy game" in a area of five children.
