A man who contaminated treats with sleeping medication and distributed them to youngsters at a youth camp in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two boys aged between nine and ten.
The defendant was arrested after eight minors and a grown-up fell ill at the facility in July.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at the courthouse on recently.
However, he disputed one particular crime he was charged with, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
The accused was kept in jail prior to a additional proceeding on November 28th.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, detailed the criminal behavior to the court.
She explained his those affected were disadvantaged youngsters who were staying at a summer program which he ran.
Ruben played a "treat game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior explained, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and request they to ingest treats "rapidly".
She told the court Ruben had played this game with the young males "over an extended period", and minors had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She said the defendant had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had worries in summer 2025.
The legal representative added: "In the summer" his stepchild had suspicions about the situation, justifiably.
"They decided to examine in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor explained materials including baby oil, ointment and injection devices were discovered, and his family member notified the police about his worries.
She said the defendant proceeded to engage in the "treat game" with six children that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that stage," she stated further.
The oversight body, the investigative body, earlier informed that it was examining the police response of the incident.
The prosecutor stated the children were unable to walk properly due to their sickness, so the stepson notified the police a second time.
She explained Ruben then played the "treat game" in a room of five children.
