Man confesses to sex offences targeting young males at youth camp
A person who spiked treats with sedative and provided them to minors at a summer program in Leicestershire has admitted sexual crimes against two children aged between nine and ten.
The defendant was arrested after eight minors and a grown-up became sick at the facility in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at the courthouse on the end of the week.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was involving a young boy.
The defendant was kept in jail prior to a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Candy game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, described Ruben's offending to the court.
She stated his victims were under-privileged children who were participating in a summer program which he operated.
The man played a "candy game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior explained, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and tell them to eat sweets "rapidly".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had played this game with the young males "for many years", and youngsters had previously become sick the subsequent day.
She stated Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had concerns in summer 2025.
The prosecutor stated further: "In the summer" his stepson had suspicions about what was going on, with valid cause.
"They chose" to have a look in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC stated objects including infant oil, petroleum jelly and syringes were located, and his stepson contacted the police about his worries.
She said the defendant went on to engage in the "sweet game" with six boys that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the next day.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that time," she added.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was examining the police response of the situation.
Mrs Prior explained the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so the family member contacted the authorities once more.
She said the man then played the "candy game" in a area of five children.
