A man who laced candy with tranquilliser and gave them to children at a youth camp in the region has admitted sexual crimes against two young males both between nine and ten.
The accused was detained after eight children and an older person became sick at Stathern Lodge in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, admitted guilt to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at the courthouse on Friday.
Yet, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was against a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was remanded in custody before a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, detailed the criminal behavior to the judicial body.
She said his victims were under-privileged children who were staying at a youth camp which he operated.
Ruben played a "sweet game" with the children, the prosecutor said, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were settling down and ask them to consume candy "rapidly".
She told the court the defendant had engaged in this activity with the children "for many years", and minors had earlier experienced illness the following morning.
She stated the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had worries in recently.
The prosecutor continued: "This year his stepchild had worries about the activities, for good reason.
"They chose" to examine in the defendant's belongings."
The legal counsel stated materials including baby oil, petroleum jelly and injection devices were located, and his stepson contacted the authorities about his concerns.
She said the man proceeded to engage in the "sweet game" with six children that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the next day.
"The police had not gone out by that point," she added.
The oversight body, the police conduct office, previously told that it was examining the police response of the situation.
The legal representative explained the minors were struggling to walk due to their condition, so Ruben's stepson notified the law enforcement a second time.
She stated the defendant then engaged in the "candy game" in a space of five minors.
