A man who laced treats with sedative and provided them to minors at a summer camp in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two children aged between nine and ten.
The defendant was arrested after eight children and one adult fell ill at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he was present at the courthouse on the end of the week.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
The defendant was remanded in custody before a further hearing on 28 November.
'Sweet game'
The legal representative, presenting evidence, outlined Ruben's offending to the court.
She stated his those affected were under-privileged children who were participating in a summer camp which he managed.
The defendant played a "treat game" with the minors, Mrs Prior said, in which he would enter the sleeping quarters when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings the man had engaged in this activity with the children "repeatedly", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She said the defendant had been capable of justifying this for many years as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had worries in summer 2025.
The legal representative stated further: "In the summer" his stepchild had suspicions about the activities, justifiably.
"They chose" to examine in the defendant's belongings."
The legal counsel said items including lubricant, Vaseline and injection devices were discovered, and his family member notified the police about his concerns.
She explained Ruben proceeded to play the "sweet game" with six boys that evening - July 26th - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"The police had not arrived by that point," she continued.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, had stated that it was examining law enforcement's management of the situation.
Mrs Prior stated the children were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so the stepson notified the police once more.
She explained the defendant then played the "candy game" in a room of five minors.
