An individual who contaminated candy with sleeping medication and distributed them to children at a summer program in the area has admitted sexual offenses against two children aged between nine and ten.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight youngsters and one adult became sick at the location in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at the courthouse on the end of the week.
However, he denied one particular crime he was accused of, which was involving a young boy.
Ruben was kept in jail prior to a additional proceeding on late November.
'Sweet game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, described the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She said his targets were under-privileged children who were staying at a summer program which he managed.
The man conducted a "candy game" with the children, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would enter the sleeping quarters when they were getting ready for bed and request they to ingest treats "as fast as possible".
She told the court Ruben had played this game with the boys "for many years", and children had previously become sick the following morning.
She said the defendant had been capable of justifying this for many years as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had suspicions in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC continued: "In the summer" his family member had suspicions about the activities, justifiably.
"They chose" to investigate in the individual's items."
The prosecutor explained materials including lubricant, ointment and syringes were discovered, and his family member notified the police about his worries.
She said Ruben continued to engage in the "candy game" with six youngsters that night - July 26th - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"The police had not responded by that point," she continued.
The oversight body, the police conduct office, previously told that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the incident.
The prosecutor stated the youngsters were unable to walk properly due to their sickness, so the family member called the authorities again.
She said Ruben then engaged in the "sweet game" in a room of five children.
