An individual who laced candy with tranquilliser and provided them to children at a summer camp in the area has admitted sexual offenses against two boys aged nine and 10.
The accused was arrested after eight youngsters and one adult became sick at Stathern Lodge in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he was present at the courthouse on recently.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was facing, which was involving a young boy.
The defendant was remanded in custody prior to a subsequent court date on late November.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, detailed the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She explained his victims were under-privileged children who were staying at a youth camp which he ran.
The man played a "candy game" with the children, the legal counsel explained, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were settling down and tell them to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She stated to the judge Ruben had engaged in this activity with the children "over an extended period", and children had previously fallen ill the next day.
She said the man had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had concerns in recently.
The legal representative added: "In the summer" his stepson had suspicions about what was going on, with valid cause.
"They chose" to have a look in the individual's items."
The legal counsel stated items including baby oil, Vaseline and injection devices were located, and his family member contacted the police about his suspicions.
She explained Ruben went on to play the "candy game" with six children that evening - that Saturday - and they were all ill the following morning.
"Authorities" had not responded by that stage," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the incident.
The prosecutor stated the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so the family member contacted the law enforcement a second time.
She said the man then conducted the "candy game" in a space of five minors.
