An individual who spiked sweets with sedative and provided them to children at a summer program in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two boys who were nine and ten years old.
The accused was taken into custody after eight children and a grown-up fell ill at the facility in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he was present at the judicial center on recently.
However, he disputed one particular crime he was charged with, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was remanded in custody prior to a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, detailed the criminal behavior to the court.
She explained his those affected were under-privileged children who were attending a summer camp which he ran.
The man conducted a "candy game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel stated, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".
She stated to the judge the man had conducted this practice with the young males "for many years", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the next day.
She said Ruben had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had worries in summer 2025.
The legal representative added: "Recently" his stepson had concerns about the activities, justifiably.
"They chose" to examine in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC said objects including lubricant, ointment and syringes were discovered, and his stepchild contacted the authorities about his concerns.
She said the man proceeded to play the "candy game" with six boys that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the following morning.
"Authorities" had not responded by that point," she continued.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was examining law enforcement's management of the situation.
Mrs Prior explained the children were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so the stepson contacted the authorities a second time.
She said Ruben then engaged in the "treat game" in a area of five youngsters.
