A person who spiked treats with sedative and gave them to children at a summer camp in the area has admitted sexual crimes against two children both between nine and ten.
The defendant was arrested after eight minors and a grown-up fell ill at Stathern Lodge in July.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, admitted guilt to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at the courthouse on Friday.
However, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was held in detention before a further hearing on 28 November.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, outlined the criminal behavior to the court.
She said his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a youth camp which he ran.
Ruben engaged in a "sweet game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and request they to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had engaged in this activity with the children "for many years", and minors had previously become sick the subsequent day.
She stated Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had suspicions in July 2025.
The prosecutor stated further: "Recently" his family member had suspicions about the activities, for good reason.
"They resolved" to examine in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel said items including baby oil, petroleum jelly and injection devices were discovered, and his stepson alerted the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She stated the defendant continued to play the "treat game" with six children that evening - July 26th - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that stage," she added.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, previously told that it was reviewing the police response of the incident.
The prosecutor stated the children were struggling to walk due to their condition, so Ruben's stepson called the authorities a second time.
She explained the defendant then engaged in the "treat game" in a space of five youngsters.