A man who contaminated sweets with sleeping medication and gave them to children at a summer camp in the area has confessed to sexual offences against two boys both nine and 10.
The accused was taken into custody after eight youngsters and one adult experienced illness at the location in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, admitted guilt to a series of 17 offences when he was present at the judicial center on recently.
Nevertheless, he disputed a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was against a nine-year-old child.
The accused was remanded in custody prior to a additional proceeding on late November.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, described Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She stated his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a summer camp which he managed.
The man played a "treat game" with the children, the prosecutor stated, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and ask them to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She stated to the judge the man had conducted this practice with the children "repeatedly", and minors had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She explained the defendant had been able to explain this over a long period as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had suspicions in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC continued: "Recently" his stepchild had worries about what was going on, justifiably.
"They chose" to examine in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC stated objects including baby oil, ointment and medical needles were discovered, and his stepchild alerted the authorities about his concerns.
She explained the defendant continued to play the "treat game" with six boys that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the following morning.
"The police had not responded by that stage," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the investigative body, previously told that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the situation.
The legal representative explained the youngsters were unable to walk properly due to their sickness, so the stepson notified the police again.
She explained Ruben then engaged in the "sweet game" in a area of five children.
