An individual who contaminated sweets with sleeping medication and provided them to youngsters at a summer program in the area has confessed to sexual offences against two children both nine and 10.
The accused was taken into custody after eight minors and a grown-up fell ill at Stathern Lodge in July.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he stood at the judicial center on Friday.
Nevertheless, he denied one particular crime he was accused of, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was held in detention ahead of a subsequent court date on late November.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, described the defendant's actions to the court.
She said his targets were under-privileged children who were attending a summer camp which he ran.
The defendant conducted a "candy game" with the minors, the prosecutor explained, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to ingest treats "rapidly".
She stated to the judge Ruben had conducted this practice with the boys "repeatedly", and children had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She stated the defendant had been capable of justifying this for many years as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had concerns in July 2025.
The legal representative added: "In the summer" his stepson had suspicions about what was going on, for good reason.
"They chose" to have a look in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC stated materials including lubricant, Vaseline and injection devices were discovered, and his stepson notified the police about his suspicions.
She stated the defendant continued to play the "candy game" with six children that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"The police had not arrived by that point," she added.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the events.
The legal representative explained the children were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so the stepson notified the police again.
She explained the defendant then conducted the "treat game" in a area of five children.
