An individual who contaminated candy with tranquilliser and distributed them to minors at a summer program in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two young males both nine and 10.
The accused was arrested after eight minors and an older person experienced illness at the facility in the summer month.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, admitted guilt to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at the courthouse on the end of the week.
However, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was concerning a young boy.
The defendant was kept in jail prior to a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Candy game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, detailed Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She stated his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a summer program which he managed.
Ruben engaged in a "candy game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel explained, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings the man had played this game with the boys "repeatedly", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She explained Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had suspicions in recently.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "Recently" his stepson had worries about the situation, with valid cause.
"They decided to examine in the defendant's belongings."
Mrs Prior KC said objects including lubricant, petroleum jelly and injection devices were discovered, and his stepchild notified the police about his suspicions.
She stated Ruben proceeded to conduct the "candy game" with six youngsters that night - that Saturday - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not responded by that stage," she added.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the incident.
Mrs Prior explained the minors were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so the stepson called the police a second time.
She stated Ruben then conducted the "candy game" in a space of five minors.
