An individual who spiked candy with tranquilliser and distributed them to minors at a summer program in the area has confessed to sexual offences against two young males both between nine and ten.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight children and a grown-up fell ill at the location in the summer month.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he was present at the judicial center on the end of the week.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was against a nine-year-old child.
The accused was held in detention ahead of a further hearing on 28 November.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, detailed Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She said his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a summer program which he ran.
The man conducted a "treat game" with the youngsters, the prosecutor explained, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were settling down and tell them to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings the man had engaged in this activity with the boys "repeatedly", and minors had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She explained the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had concerns in summer 2025.
The legal representative continued: "This year his stepchild had suspicions about the activities, for good reason.
"They decided to have a look in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC stated items including infant oil, ointment and medical needles were discovered, and his stepson contacted the authorities about his concerns.
She said the defendant proceeded to play the "sweet game" with six boys that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that point," she stated further.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was investigating the police response of the incident.
The prosecutor explained the minors were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so the stepson called the law enforcement once more.
She explained Ruben then conducted the "treat game" in a room of five youngsters.
