An individual who laced treats with sleeping medication and distributed them to minors at a youth camp in the area has admitted sexual offences against two children both between nine and ten.
The defendant was arrested after eight youngsters and an older person became sick at the facility in July.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, admitted guilt to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at the courthouse on Friday.
Nevertheless, he disputed a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was concerning a young boy.
Ruben was remanded in custody ahead of a further hearing on 28 November.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, described Ruben's offending to the court.
She stated his targets were under-privileged children who were staying at a summer program which he operated.
Ruben engaged in a "candy game" with the children, the prosecutor stated, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and tell them to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She stated to the judge the man had conducted this practice with the young males "repeatedly", and children had earlier experienced illness the following morning.
She said the man had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had suspicions in July 2025.
The prosecutor stated further: "Recently" his stepchild had worries about what was going on, for good reason.
"They chose" to investigate in the defendant's belongings."
Mrs Prior KC stated objects including infant oil, ointment and syringes were found, and his stepchild alerted the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She said the man continued to conduct the "sweet game" with six children that time - July 26th - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that stage," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the police conduct office, earlier informed that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the events.
The legal representative stated the minors were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so the family member called the police again.
She stated the defendant then engaged in the "sweet game" in a room of five youngsters.
