An individual who contaminated treats with sleeping medication and provided them to minors at a youth camp in the area has confessed to sexual offenses against two young males both between nine and ten.
The accused was arrested after eight children and a grown-up became sick at the facility in July.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he stood at the courthouse on the end of the week.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit one particular crime he was facing, which was involving a young boy.
The defendant was kept in jail before a further hearing on 28 November.
'Sweet game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, described Ruben's offending to the court.
She stated his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a summer program which he operated.
Ruben conducted a "treat game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior said, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were preparing to sleep and tell them to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".
She stated to the judge the defendant had conducted this practice with the young males "repeatedly", and children had previously become sick the subsequent day.
She stated the man had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had suspicions in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "Recently" his stepson had concerns about the activities, with valid cause.
"They resolved" to have a look in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor explained items including baby oil, Vaseline and syringes were found, and his stepchild alerted the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She stated the man continued to conduct the "treat game" with six boys that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the next day.
"The police had not responded by that point," she added.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was reviewing the police response of the incident.
Mrs Prior explained the children were unable to walk properly due to their sickness, so the stepson contacted the authorities a second time.
She explained the man then engaged in the "sweet game" in a space of five children.
