A man who laced sweets with sleeping medication and distributed them to minors at a summer program in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two children both nine and 10.
The accused was taken into custody after eight minors and a grown-up became sick at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he stood at the courthouse on the end of the week.
Yet, he denied one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was kept in jail prior to a subsequent court date on 28 November.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, outlined Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She stated his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a summer program which he ran.
The defendant played a "treat game" with the minors, the legal counsel explained, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were getting ready for bed and request they to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings the man had played this game with the young males "over an extended period", and youngsters had previously become sick the following morning.
She stated the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the youngsters being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had suspicions in July 2025.
The prosecutor stated further: "This year his stepson had concerns about what was going on, with valid cause.
"They chose" to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
The legal counsel stated objects including infant oil, ointment and medical needles were located, and his stepson alerted the authorities about his suspicions.
She explained the man went on to conduct the "candy game" with six youngsters that evening - July 26th - and they were all ill the following morning.
"The police had not responded by that stage," she added.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the events.
The legal representative said the children were unable to walk properly due to their condition, so the stepson called the police again.
She explained the man then played the "treat game" in a room of five children.
