An individual who spiked sweets with tranquilliser and provided them to children at a summer camp in the region has confessed to sexual crimes against two young males aged nine and 10.
The defendant was detained after eight minors and one adult experienced illness at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at the courthouse on the end of the week.
However, he disputed a single sexual charge he was facing, which was against a young boy.
Ruben was kept in jail before a additional proceeding on November 28th.
'Sweet game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, detailed the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She stated his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a summer program which he operated.
Ruben engaged in a "sweet game" with the minors, the legal counsel stated, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to ingest treats "rapidly".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had played this game with the young males "for many years", and children had previously become sick the following morning.
She stated Ruben had been able to explain this over a long period as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had suspicions in July 2025.
The legal representative continued: "In the summer" his stepchild had concerns about what was going on, for good reason.
"They resolved" to examine in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC explained objects including baby oil, petroleum jelly and injection devices were found, and his stepchild alerted the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She explained the defendant proceeded to play the "treat game" with six youngsters that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that stage," she continued.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, had stated that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the incident.
The prosecutor said the minors were struggling to walk due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson called the law enforcement a second time.
She stated the man then conducted the "sweet game" in a area of five minors.
