An individual who spiked treats with sleeping medication and gave them to minors at a youth camp in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two young males aged nine and ten years old.
The defendant was detained after eight youngsters and a grown-up became sick at Stathern Lodge in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he was present at the judicial center on Friday.
However, he disputed one particular crime he was charged with, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was kept in jail before a subsequent court date on late November.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, outlined the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She explained his targets were under-privileged children who were attending a summer program which he ran.
Ruben played a "treat game" with the children, Mrs Prior explained, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and request they to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had conducted this practice with the children "over an extended period", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She stated Ruben had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had worries in July 2025.
The legal representative stated further: "Recently" his stepchild had worries about the situation, for good reason.
"They decided to investigate in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor said objects including lubricant, petroleum jelly and syringes were found, and his stepchild contacted the law enforcement about his concerns.
She stated the defendant continued to play the "candy game" with six youngsters that time - July 26th - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"The police had not arrived by that time," she added.
The regulatory agency, the investigative body, had stated that it was investigating the police response of the events.
Mrs Prior said the children were unable to walk properly due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson notified the authorities once more.
She stated the man then engaged in the "sweet game" in a space of five youngsters.
