A man who spiked candy with tranquilliser and provided them to youngsters at a youth camp in the region has confessed to sexual offenses against two children aged between nine and ten.
The defendant was detained after eight children and a grown-up experienced illness at the location in the summer month.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he was present at the judicial center on the end of the week.
However, he refused to admit one particular crime he was accused of, which was involving a young boy.
Ruben was held in detention prior to a subsequent court date on 28 November.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, presenting evidence, outlined Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She said his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a summer camp which he ran.
The defendant engaged in a "candy game" with the children, the prosecutor said, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were getting ready for bed and request they to consume candy "rapidly".
She stated to the judge the man had engaged in this activity with the boys "repeatedly", and children had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She said the man had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the youngsters being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had suspicions in recently.
The legal representative continued: "In the summer" his family member had suspicions about what was going on, with valid cause.
"They chose" to examine in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC said objects including baby oil, Vaseline and medical needles were located, and his stepchild notified the authorities about his suspicions.
She explained the defendant proceeded to conduct the "sweet game" with six boys that evening - that Saturday - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that point," she continued.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the situation.
The legal representative explained the minors were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson contacted the police once more.
She explained the man then conducted the "sweet game" in a area of five children.
