A man who spiked sweets with sleeping medication and gave them to youngsters at a youth camp in the area has admitted sexual crimes against two young males both between nine and ten.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight minors and an older person fell ill at the location in July.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he stood at the judicial center on recently.
Nevertheless, he disputed a single sexual charge he was facing, which was concerning a young boy.
The accused was remanded in custody prior to a subsequent court date on 28 November.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, outlined Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She explained his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a summer camp which he managed.
Ruben engaged in a "sweet game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior explained, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were settling down and ask them to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".
She stated to the judge Ruben had conducted this practice with the children "for many years", and minors had previously fallen ill the next day.
She explained the man had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the minors being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his family member had suspicions in recently.
The prosecutor continued: "This year his stepchild had suspicions about the activities, justifiably.
"They decided to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor said objects including baby oil, petroleum jelly and syringes were discovered, and his stepchild alerted the police about his suspicions.
She explained the man continued to conduct the "candy game" with six boys that night - that Saturday - and they were everyone unwell the following morning.
"The police had not gone out by that time," she added.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the events.
Mrs Prior stated the children were struggling to walk due to their condition, so the family member called the police a second time.
She said Ruben then played the "sweet game" in a room of five youngsters.
