A man who spiked treats with sedative and provided them to minors at a youth camp in the area has confessed to sexual crimes against two children aged nine and ten years old.
The defendant was arrested after eight minors and an older person experienced illness at the location in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he was present at the courthouse on Friday.
However, he denied one particular crime he was facing, which was against a nine-year-old child.
The accused was held in detention prior to a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Sweet game'
The legal representative, presenting evidence, described the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She said his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were participating in a summer program which he operated.
Ruben played a "candy game" with the youngsters, the prosecutor stated, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were settling down and request they to eat sweets "rapidly".
She told the court the defendant had engaged in this activity with the children "for many years", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She explained the man had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the youngsters being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his family member had worries in recently.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "In the summer" his stepchild had worries about the activities, with valid cause.
"They chose" to examine in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor explained materials including baby oil, petroleum jelly and injection devices were discovered, and his family member alerted the authorities about his suspicions.
She explained Ruben went on to engage in the "sweet game" with six youngsters that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the next day.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that point," she stated further.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was examining law enforcement's management of the incident.
Mrs Prior said the children were struggling to walk due to being ill, so the stepson notified the police once more.
She explained the defendant then played the "candy game" in a room of five youngsters.
