A person who laced sweets with sleeping medication and provided them to minors at a youth camp in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two boys aged between nine and ten.
The defendant was detained after eight youngsters and an older person experienced illness at the location in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he stood at the courthouse on the end of the week.
Nevertheless, he denied a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was against a young boy.
The accused was remanded in custody ahead of a subsequent court date on 28 November.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, detailed the criminal behavior to the legal proceedings.
She said his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a youth camp which he ran.
Ruben conducted a "sweet game" with the minors, Mrs Prior explained, in which he would access the sleeping quarters when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had played this game with the boys "repeatedly", and children had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She said Ruben had been able to explain this over a long period as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had worries in recently.
Mrs Prior KC added: "Recently" his stepson had suspicions about the situation, justifiably.
"They resolved" to examine in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC said items including baby oil, ointment and injection devices were located, and his stepson contacted the law enforcement about his worries.
She said Ruben proceeded to conduct the "candy game" with six youngsters that night - July 26th - and they were all ill the next day.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that point," she added.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was reviewing the police response of the situation.
The prosecutor explained the children were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson called the police again.
She stated the man then engaged in the "candy game" in a space of five children.
