An individual who contaminated candy with sleeping medication and gave them to children at a summer camp in the region has admitted sexual crimes against two children aged between nine and ten.
The accused was taken into custody after eight youngsters and a grown-up fell ill at Stathern Lodge in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, admitted guilt to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at the judicial center on recently.
Nevertheless, he disputed a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
The accused was kept in jail prior to a additional proceeding on late November.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, outlined the criminal behavior to the court.
She explained his those affected were disadvantaged youngsters who were participating in a summer camp which he ran.
The man engaged in a "treat game" with the children, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and ask them to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She told the court the defendant had conducted this practice with the boys "for many years", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She stated the man had been capable of justifying this for many years as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had suspicions in July 2025.
The legal representative stated further: "This year his family member had worries about what was going on, justifiably.
"They decided to have a look in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor explained materials including infant oil, Vaseline and medical needles were discovered, and his stepchild notified the police about his suspicions.
She explained Ruben went on to engage in the "sweet game" with six boys that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the following morning.
"The police had not gone out by that point," she continued.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, previously told that it was investigating the police response of the situation.
The legal representative explained the minors were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so the family member contacted the law enforcement a second time.
She said Ruben then engaged in the "candy game" in a space of five youngsters.
