A man who laced candy with sedative and gave them to children at a youth camp in the region has admitted sexual offenses against two children aged nine and ten years old.
The defendant was arrested after eight minors and a grown-up became sick at Stathern Lodge in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he was present at the judicial center on recently.
Yet, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was against a nine-year-old child.
The defendant was kept in jail before a additional proceeding on late November.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, presenting evidence, outlined the criminal behavior to the legal proceedings.
She explained his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a summer camp which he ran.
The man conducted a "treat game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel explained, in which he would access the sleeping quarters when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to ingest treats "rapidly".
She stated to the judge the man had conducted this practice with the boys "over an extended period", and children had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She explained Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had concerns in recently.
The prosecutor stated further: "Recently" his family member had suspicions about what was going on, for good reason.
"They resolved" to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
The legal counsel stated items including lubricant, petroleum jelly and medical needles were located, and his family member contacted the authorities about his worries.
She explained Ruben continued to play the "sweet game" with six children that time - that Saturday - and they were all sick the next day.
"Authorities" had not gone out by that time," she continued.
The oversight body, the investigative body, had stated that it was examining law enforcement's management of the events.
The legal representative stated the youngsters were struggling to walk due to their condition, so Ruben's stepson called the law enforcement a second time.
She explained Ruben then engaged in the "sweet game" in a area of five minors.
