An individual who contaminated sweets with sleeping medication and gave them to minors at a summer camp in the area has confessed to sexual offenses against two children aged nine and 10.
The accused was arrested after eight youngsters and an older person fell ill at the facility in July.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, admitted guilt to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at the judicial center on the end of the week.
Yet, he denied a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was remanded in custody prior to a additional proceeding on late November.
'Candy game'
The prosecutor, presenting evidence, outlined the defendant's actions to the court.
She stated his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a summer camp which he ran.
The man conducted a "sweet game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel stated, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to ingest treats "as fast as possible".
She told the court the defendant had conducted this practice with the children "for many years", and children had previously become sick the next day.
She said the man had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had concerns in July 2025.
The legal representative stated further: "In the summer" his stepson had suspicions about what was going on, with valid cause.
"They chose" to investigate in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC said items including infant oil, petroleum jelly and injection devices were found, and his stepchild notified the authorities about his concerns.
She said the defendant went on to engage in the "candy game" with six children that night - that Saturday - and they were everyone unwell the following morning.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that time," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the investigative body, previously told that it was examining the police response of the incident.
Mrs Prior said the children were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so the stepson notified the police a second time.
She stated Ruben then played the "candy game" in a area of five children.
