🔗 Share this article Man admits sex offences against boys at summer program The accused confessed to 17 charges at the courthouse on Friday An individual who laced candy with tranquilliser and distributed them to children at a youth camp in the area has admitted sexual crimes against two boys who were nine and 10. The accused was arrested after eight children and a grown-up experienced illness at the facility in mid-summer. The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at the courthouse on recently. Nevertheless, he disputed a single sexual charge he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old boy. The accused was kept in jail ahead of a further hearing on late November. 'Treat game' The prosecutor, prosecuting, described the criminal behavior to the court. She said his victims were under-privileged children who were participating in a summer program which he managed. The defendant played a "treat 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 ingest treats "rapidly". She stated to the judge the defendant had played this game with the boys "for many years", and minors had earlier experienced illness the following morning. She explained Ruben had been able to explain this repeatedly as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had suspicions in summer 2025. Mrs Prior KC stated further: "Recently" his stepchild had suspicions about the activities, justifiably. "They chose" to examine in the defendant's belongings." The legal counsel explained items including baby oil, ointment and syringes were discovered, and his family member contacted the law enforcement about his worries. She said Ruben continued to conduct the "treat game" with six children that night - that Saturday - and they were all sick the following morning. "Law enforcement" had not responded by that time," she added. The regulatory agency, the investigative body, had stated that it was reviewing the police response of the incident. The prosecutor explained the children were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson notified the law enforcement again. She said Ruben then engaged in the "sweet game" in a room of five youngsters.