Man pleads guilty to sexual offenses against boys at youth camp
A man who contaminated treats with tranquilliser and gave them to children at a summer program in the region has admitted sexual offences against two young males aged nine and ten years old.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight youngsters and one adult experienced illness at the location in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he was present at the courthouse on Friday.
Yet, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was involving a young boy.
The accused was kept in jail before a further hearing on November 28th.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, outlined the criminal behavior to the judicial body.
She explained his victims were under-privileged children who were attending a summer program which he ran.
The man engaged in a "candy game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior said, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and tell them to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She told the court Ruben had engaged in this activity with the boys "repeatedly", and youngsters had previously become sick the subsequent day.
She said the defendant had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the minors being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had worries in summer 2025.
The prosecutor continued: "This year his stepchild had suspicions about the situation, for good reason.
"They chose" to investigate in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC stated materials including baby oil, ointment and syringes were located, and his family member notified the law enforcement about his worries.
She explained the defendant continued to conduct the "candy game" with six youngsters that night - July 26th - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that point," she added.
The oversight body, the investigative body, earlier informed that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
The legal representative explained the children were struggling to walk due to being ill, so the stepson called the police a second time.
She stated the man then conducted the "sweet game" in a room of five children.
