A person who spiked treats with tranquilliser and gave them to minors at a summer camp in the region has confessed to sexual crimes against two boys aged between nine and ten.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight minors and a grown-up experienced illness at the location in July.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he was present at the courthouse on recently.
Nevertheless, he disputed one particular crime he was facing, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was kept in jail ahead of a further hearing on 28 November.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, described the criminal behavior to the judicial body.
She explained his victims were under-privileged children who were attending a youth camp which he managed.
The defendant played a "treat game" with the youngsters, the prosecutor explained, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were settling down and ask them to consume candy "rapidly".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had played this game with the children "repeatedly", and children had previously become sick the next day.
She explained the man had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had worries in summer 2025.
The prosecutor continued: "Recently" his stepson had suspicions about the activities, for good reason.
"They decided to examine in the individual's items."
The prosecutor said objects including lubricant, petroleum jelly and syringes were discovered, and his family member alerted the police about his concerns.
She explained the man went on to conduct the "sweet game" with six boys that night - July 26th - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"The police had not arrived by that point," she continued.
The regulatory agency, the investigative body, earlier informed that it was examining law enforcement's management of the incident.
The prosecutor said the children were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so the stepson contacted the police a second time.
She said the man then played the "sweet game" in a room of five minors.
