An individual who spiked sweets with sedative and gave them to children at a summer program in the region has confessed to sexual offenses against two boys who were nine and 10.
The defendant was detained after eight children and a grown-up became sick at the facility in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he was present at the courthouse on the end of the week.
However, he denied one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
The defendant was held in detention prior to a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, described the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She stated his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were participating in a summer program which he operated.
The man conducted a "candy game" with the minors, the legal counsel explained, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and request they to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She told the court Ruben had conducted this practice with the children "repeatedly", and minors had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She stated Ruben had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had suspicions in July 2025.
The prosecutor stated further: "In the summer" his stepson had worries about what was going on, justifiably.
"They decided to investigate in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor said objects including infant oil, petroleum jelly and medical needles were located, and his stepson alerted the law enforcement about his worries.
She stated the man continued to engage in the "candy game" with six children that evening - July 26th - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not responded by that point," she stated further.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the situation.
The prosecutor said the youngsters were struggling to walk due to their condition, so the stepson contacted the authorities once more.
She stated Ruben then played the "sweet game" in a room of five minors.
