An individual who contaminated treats with tranquilliser and provided them to children at a summer program in the region has confessed to sexual offenses against two boys both nine and ten years old.
The defendant was arrested after eight youngsters and a grown-up fell ill at the facility in the summer month.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, admitted guilt to a series of 17 offences when he stood at the courthouse on the end of the week.
However, he disputed one particular crime he was facing, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was kept in jail before a additional proceeding on late November.
'Sweet game'
The legal representative, handling the case, outlined Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She explained his victims were under-privileged children who were participating in a summer program which he managed.
The man conducted a "sweet game" with the minors, the prosecutor stated, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were settling down and ask them to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She stated to the judge the defendant had played this game with the boys "for many years", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She stated the defendant had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had worries in recently.
The legal representative stated further: "Recently" his stepchild had suspicions about the situation, with valid cause.
"They resolved" to examine in the individual's items."
The prosecutor said items including infant oil, Vaseline and medical needles were discovered, and his family member contacted the authorities about his concerns.
She stated Ruben went on to engage in the "candy game" with six boys that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the next day.
"Authorities" had not gone out by that stage," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, previously told that it was reviewing the police response of the incident.
The prosecutor explained the youngsters were struggling to walk due to their condition, so the stepson contacted the law enforcement again.
She explained Ruben then conducted the "treat game" in a area of five children.
