An individual who laced candy with sleeping medication and distributed them to children at a youth camp in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two children both nine and ten years old.
The accused was taken into custody after eight children and a grown-up fell ill at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at the judicial center on Friday.
Yet, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was involving a young boy.
Ruben was held in detention prior to a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Candy game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, described the defendant's actions to the court.
She explained his victims were under-privileged children who were staying at a summer camp which he ran.
The man played a "treat game" with the children, the prosecutor said, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were settling down and request they to ingest treats "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings the man had engaged in this activity with the young males "for many years", and minors had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She explained Ruben had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the minors being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had concerns in recently.
The legal representative added: "This year his family member had concerns about what was going on, justifiably.
"They chose" to examine in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC stated materials including lubricant, ointment and medical needles were located, and his family member alerted the law enforcement about his worries.
She explained Ruben proceeded to engage in the "candy game" with six children that evening - that Saturday - and they were everyone unwell the following morning.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that point," she added.
The oversight body, the police conduct office, previously told that it was investigating the police response of the incident.
The prosecutor stated the youngsters were struggling to walk due to being ill, so the stepson called the police once more.
She said the man then conducted the "sweet game" in a room of five children.
