An individual who spiked treats with sedative and provided them to children at a youth camp in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two young males aged nine and 10.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight youngsters and a grown-up fell ill at Stathern Lodge in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at the judicial center on recently.
Nevertheless, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was against a nine-year-old child.
The accused was remanded in custody before a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, outlined the defendant's actions to the court.
She explained his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a youth camp which he managed.
Ruben engaged in a "candy game" with the minors, the prosecutor explained, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were settling down and tell them to eat sweets "rapidly".
She informed the proceedings the man had conducted this practice with the young males "for many years", and children had previously become sick the subsequent day.
She stated Ruben had been capable of justifying this for many years as the youngsters being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had suspicions in recently.
The legal representative continued: "In the summer" his stepson had worries about the situation, for good reason.
"They resolved" to have a look in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor stated materials including infant oil, Vaseline and injection devices were located, and his stepson alerted the law enforcement about his worries.
She said the man continued to play the "sweet game" with six youngsters that time - that Saturday - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that time," she added.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was examining the police response of the situation.
The prosecutor stated the minors were unable to walk properly due to their condition, so Ruben's stepson notified the police a second time.
She said Ruben then conducted the "sweet game" in a area of five minors.
