A man who spiked treats with sleeping medication and distributed them to children at a youth camp in the area has confessed to sexual offences against two young males aged nine and ten years old.
The accused was arrested after eight children and one adult experienced illness at the location in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, admitted guilt to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at the courthouse on Friday.
However, he disputed a single sexual charge he was facing, which was concerning a young boy.
The defendant was held in detention before a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Sweet game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, outlined Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She said his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were staying at a summer program which he ran.
The defendant played a "sweet game" with the children, the prosecutor explained, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to ingest treats "as fast as possible".
She stated to the judge the defendant had conducted this practice with the children "repeatedly", and minors had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She said Ruben had been able to explain this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had worries in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC continued: "In the summer" his stepchild had worries about the situation, for good reason.
"They resolved" to have a look in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC said materials including baby oil, petroleum jelly and syringes were located, and his stepson contacted the police about his worries.
She stated the man went on to engage in the "treat game" with six boys that time - July 26th - and they were all sick the next day.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that stage," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was reviewing the police response of the incident.
The legal representative stated the children were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson contacted the authorities once more.
She said the man then played the "candy game" in a room of five youngsters.
