A person who contaminated sweets with sleeping medication and distributed them to youngsters at a summer program in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two young males who were between nine and ten.
The accused was detained after eight youngsters and one adult became sick at the location in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from that region, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he was present at the judicial center on recently.
However, he disputed one particular crime he was charged with, which was concerning a young boy.
The defendant was kept in jail ahead of a additional proceeding on November 28th.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, described Ruben's offending to the court.
She stated his targets were under-privileged children who were participating in a summer program which he ran.
The man engaged in a "sweet game" with the minors, the prosecutor stated, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and tell them to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had played this game with the young males "repeatedly", and minors had previously fallen ill the next day.
She stated Ruben had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the youngsters being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had worries in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC continued: "Recently" his stepchild had suspicions about the situation, justifiably.
"They decided to have a look in the individual's items."
The prosecutor said materials including infant oil, ointment and syringes were found, and his stepchild notified the police about his suspicions.
She explained the man proceeded to engage in the "candy game" with six boys that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that point," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was investigating the police response of the events.
The prosecutor said the children were unable to walk properly due to their condition, so the family member contacted the police again.
She stated Ruben then played the "sweet game" in a space of five minors.
