A man who contaminated sweets with sedative and distributed them to minors at a summer camp in the region has confessed to sexual crimes against two young males aged nine and 10.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight youngsters and an older person experienced illness at the location in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he was present at the courthouse on the end of the week.
However, he denied one particular crime he was charged with, which was against a nine-year-old child.
The accused was held in detention before a additional proceeding on November 28th.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, outlined the criminal behavior to the judicial body.
She explained his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a youth camp which he ran.
The man conducted a "candy game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and request they to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".
She told the court the man had played this game with the boys "for many years", and minors had previously become sick the subsequent day.
She explained the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the minors being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had concerns in recently.
The legal representative stated further: "Recently" his family member had concerns about what was going on, for good reason.
"They decided to examine in the defendant's belongings."
The legal counsel explained materials including infant oil, Vaseline and injection devices were discovered, and his stepson contacted the law enforcement about his concerns.
She stated Ruben continued to conduct the "sweet game" with six youngsters that night - that Saturday - and they were all sick the following morning.
"The police had not gone out by that time," she stated further.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the incident.
The legal representative stated the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson contacted the police once more.
She stated the man then engaged in the "sweet game" in a room of five minors.
