A man who contaminated candy with sleeping medication and gave them to children at a summer program in the region has confessed to sexual offences against two boys aged between nine and ten.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight children and an older person became sick at the location in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at the judicial center on Friday.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
The accused was kept in jail ahead of a additional proceeding on November 28th.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, detailed Ruben's offending to the court.
She said his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a youth camp which he managed.
Ruben played a "candy game" with the children, the legal counsel explained, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and request they to eat sweets "rapidly".
She stated to the judge the defendant had engaged in this activity with the children "for many years", and minors had previously become sick the following morning.
She stated the defendant had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his family member had concerns in recently.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "In the summer" his stepson had worries about the activities, justifiably.
"They resolved" to investigate in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC explained objects including infant oil, petroleum jelly and medical needles were found, and his family member notified the law enforcement about his worries.
She stated Ruben proceeded to play the "treat game" with six youngsters that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the following morning.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that point," she stated further.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was reviewing the police response of the events.
The legal representative stated the minors were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so the stepson contacted the law enforcement again.
She stated the defendant then engaged in the "candy game" in a area of five youngsters.
