An individual who contaminated sweets with tranquilliser and provided them to children at a summer camp in the region has confessed to sexual offences against two children aged nine and 10.
The accused was detained after eight children and an older person fell ill at Stathern Lodge in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at the courthouse on the end of the week.
However, he denied a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was kept in jail before a further hearing on November 28th.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, detailed the defendant's actions to the court.
She stated his those affected were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a youth camp which he ran.
The defendant conducted a "treat game" with the youngsters, the prosecutor said, in which he would enter the sleeping quarters when they were preparing to sleep and request they to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She told the court Ruben had conducted this practice with the children "over an extended period", and minors had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She explained Ruben had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had suspicions in recently.
The prosecutor stated further: "This year his stepson had worries about what was going on, with valid cause.
"They resolved" to examine in the individual's items."
The prosecutor stated materials including infant oil, petroleum jelly and medical needles were discovered, and his family member alerted the authorities about his suspicions.
She stated Ruben continued to conduct the "sweet game" with six boys that night - that Saturday - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that time," she added.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, had stated that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the incident.
The prosecutor explained the minors were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so the family member notified the law enforcement once more.
She explained Ruben then played the "treat game" in a room of five minors.
