A man who spiked candy with sleeping medication and distributed them to children at a youth camp in the area has confessed to sexual crimes against two boys aged nine and ten years old.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight youngsters and an older person experienced illness at the location in July.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he stood at the judicial center on Friday.
Yet, he denied one particular crime he was charged with, which was involving a young boy.
Ruben was kept in jail ahead of a further hearing on 28 November.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, presenting evidence, detailed Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She stated his victims were under-privileged children who were participating in a youth camp which he operated.
Ruben played a "sweet game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel stated, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and tell them to ingest treats "rapidly".
She stated to the judge Ruben had engaged in this activity with the boys "for many years", and children had previously become sick the following morning.
She explained the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his family member had worries in recently.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "This year his stepson had concerns about the activities, justifiably.
"They resolved" to have a look in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel said objects including infant oil, ointment and medical needles were located, and his stepson notified the police about his worries.
She said Ruben went on to conduct the "candy game" with six boys that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the next day.
"The police had not gone out by that point," she continued.
The oversight body, the police conduct office, earlier informed that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the events.
Mrs Prior said the minors were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so the family member contacted the police once more.
She said the defendant then engaged in the "sweet game" in a room of five children.
