Person admits sexual crimes involving young males at summer program
A person who laced candy with tranquilliser and gave them to children at a summer camp in the region has admitted sexual crimes against two young males aged nine and ten years old.
The accused was detained after eight youngsters and one adult became sick at the facility in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
Nevertheless, he denied one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was kept in jail prior to a further hearing on November 28th.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, detailed Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She explained his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a youth camp which he operated.
The man played a "sweet game" with the children, the legal counsel said, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had engaged in this activity with the young males "repeatedly", and youngsters had previously become sick the following morning.
She said the man had been able to explain this repeatedly as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had concerns in summer 2025.
The legal representative added: "Recently" his stepson had worries about the activities, with valid cause.
"They resolved" to investigate in the individual's items."
The legal counsel said materials including infant oil, Vaseline and syringes were found, and his family member contacted the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She explained Ruben continued to engage in the "treat game" with six boys that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that stage," she continued.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, had stated that it was reviewing the police response of the events.
The legal representative stated the youngsters were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson contacted the police again.
She explained Ruben then engaged in the "candy game" in a room of five youngsters.
