A person who laced sweets with sedative and gave them to minors at a summer program in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two young males aged nine and ten years old.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight youngsters and one adult experienced illness at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he was present at the judicial center on recently.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit one particular crime he was facing, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was remanded in custody ahead of a further hearing on November 28th.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, described Ruben's offending to the court.
She stated his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a youth camp which he managed.
The defendant engaged in a "sweet game" with the children, Mrs Prior said, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to eat sweets "rapidly".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had conducted this practice with the children "for many years", and children had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She explained the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the minors being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his family member had concerns in July 2025.
The prosecutor stated further: "Recently" his stepchild had concerns about what was going on, for good reason.
"They chose" to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
Mrs Prior KC said objects including infant oil, petroleum jelly and medical needles were found, and his stepson contacted the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She explained the defendant continued to conduct the "treat game" with six youngsters that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"The police had not responded by that time," she continued.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the situation.
Mrs Prior explained the minors were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so the stepson contacted the police again.
She stated the defendant then engaged in the "sweet game" in a space of five youngsters.
