An individual who laced sweets with sleeping medication and provided them to minors at a summer program in the area has confessed to sexual offences against two boys aged nine and 10.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight youngsters and one adult fell ill at Stathern Lodge in the summer month.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, admitted guilt to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at the judicial center on the end of the week.
Yet, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was held in detention ahead of a further hearing on late November.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, handling the case, described Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She said his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were staying at a youth camp which he operated.
The defendant played a "treat game" with the minors, the prosecutor explained, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and ask them to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had engaged in this activity with the boys "over an extended period", and minors had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She explained the man had been capable of justifying this for many years as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had concerns in recently.
The legal representative stated further: "This year his stepchild had concerns about the situation, justifiably.
"They resolved" to examine in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor said materials including lubricant, Vaseline and medical needles were located, and his stepchild alerted the authorities about his suspicions.
She said Ruben went on to play the "candy game" with six boys that evening - July 26th - and they were all ill the following morning.
"The police had not gone out by that time," she continued.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, had stated that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the situation.
The legal representative stated the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson contacted the police once more.
She explained Ruben then conducted the "treat game" in a area of five minors.
