A person who laced sweets with sleeping medication and provided them to youngsters at a summer camp in the region has confessed to sexual offenses against two children both nine and 10.
The defendant was arrested after eight minors and a grown-up experienced illness at the location in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he stood at the courthouse on Friday.
However, he denied one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was held in detention prior to a further hearing on late November.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, outlined Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She stated his victims were under-privileged children who were participating in a youth camp which he operated.
The defendant played a "sweet game" with the children, the legal counsel explained, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were settling down and ask them to consume candy "rapidly".
She told the court Ruben had conducted this practice with the boys "over an extended period", and youngsters had previously become sick the next day.
She explained the defendant had been able to explain this repeatedly as the minors being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had concerns in recently.
The prosecutor continued: "In the summer" his family member had worries about the activities, with valid cause.
"They resolved" to have a look in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor stated objects including lubricant, petroleum jelly and medical needles were located, and his stepson alerted the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She said the man continued to play the "sweet game" with six youngsters that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that time," she stated further.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the events.
The legal representative said the youngsters were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson contacted the authorities once more.
She said the man then played the "candy game" in a room of five children.
