A person who laced sweets with tranquilliser and provided them to minors at a youth camp in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two boys aged nine and 10.
The defendant was detained after eight youngsters and one adult experienced illness at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he was present at the courthouse on Friday.
Yet, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was involving a young boy.
The defendant was held in detention ahead of a subsequent court date on 28 November.
'Candy game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, described Ruben's offending to the court.
She said his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a summer camp which he ran.
The defendant played a "treat game" with the children, the legal counsel explained, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were settling down and request they to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She stated to the judge Ruben had engaged in this activity with the boys "over an extended period", and children had previously become sick the following morning.
She said the man had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had concerns in July 2025.
The prosecutor continued: "This year his stepchild had suspicions about the situation, justifiably.
"They decided to investigate in the individual's items."
The prosecutor said items including lubricant, petroleum jelly and syringes were found, and his family member alerted the authorities about his suspicions.
She said Ruben continued to play the "candy game" with six children that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the following morning.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that time," she continued.
The regulatory agency, the investigative body, previously told that it was reviewing the police response of the incident.
The legal representative explained the minors were unable to walk properly due to their condition, so the stepson contacted the police a second time.
She stated the man then engaged in the "sweet game" in a area of five youngsters.
