An individual who laced sweets with sleeping medication and gave them to youngsters at a youth camp in the area has confessed to sexual offences against two children who were nine and ten years old.
The accused was detained after eight minors and an older person became sick at the facility in July.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at the courthouse on recently.
Yet, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
The accused was remanded in custody before a subsequent court date on 28 November.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, detailed Ruben's offending to the court.
She said his victims were under-privileged children who were staying at a summer camp which he operated.
The defendant played a "treat game" with the minors, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and tell them to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings the man had conducted this practice with the children "over an extended period", and minors had previously become sick the next day.
She explained Ruben had been capable of justifying this for many years as the youngsters being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had worries in recently.
The legal representative continued: "Recently" his stepson had worries about the situation, with valid cause.
"They resolved" to investigate in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor explained items including lubricant, petroleum jelly and medical needles were located, and his family member contacted the authorities about his suspicions.
She explained Ruben went on to engage in the "sweet game" with six boys that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the following morning.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that point," she added.
The regulatory agency, the police conduct office, previously told that it was examining the police response of the incident.
The legal representative stated the minors were unable to walk properly due to their sickness, so the stepson called the law enforcement a second time.
She explained Ruben then engaged in the "treat game" in a space of five youngsters.
