Man pleads guilty to sex offences against boys at youth camp
A man who laced candy with sleeping medication and gave them to children at a summer camp in the area has admitted sexual offenses against two children aged nine and ten years old.
The defendant was detained after eight youngsters and one adult became sick at the facility in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
The defendant was kept in jail prior to a further hearing on 28 November.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, described the criminal behavior to the court.
She stated his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were participating in a summer program which he operated.
The defendant engaged in a "candy game" with the children, the prosecutor stated, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to eat sweets "rapidly".
She stated to the judge the defendant had engaged in this activity with the boys "repeatedly", and children had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She explained Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the youngsters being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had worries in summer 2025.
The legal representative added: "In the summer" his family member had worries about the activities, with valid cause.
"They chose" to have a look in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor explained objects including lubricant, petroleum jelly and syringes were discovered, and his stepchild notified the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She explained the man went on to engage in the "treat game" with six boys that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the following morning.
"The police had not gone out by that time," she added.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, had stated that it was reviewing the police response of the incident.
Mrs Prior stated the minors were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so the stepson called the police again.
She explained the man then played the "candy game" in a area of five children.
