Individual admits sexual offenses targeting young males at summer program
An individual who spiked treats with tranquilliser and distributed them to youngsters at a summer camp in the area has confessed to sexual offences against two children who were nine and ten years old.
The defendant was detained after eight minors and one adult became sick at the location in July.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at the courthouse on Friday.
Yet, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was kept in jail prior to a subsequent court date on late November.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, detailed the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She said his targets were under-privileged children who were participating in a summer camp which he operated.
The defendant conducted a "candy game" with the minors, Mrs Prior explained, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and request they to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She told the court the man had conducted this practice with the children "repeatedly", and children had previously fallen ill the next day.
She stated the defendant had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had worries in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "In the summer" his stepchild had suspicions about what was going on, for good reason.
"They resolved" to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
The legal counsel said materials including baby oil, petroleum jelly and medical needles were discovered, and his stepchild alerted the law enforcement about his worries.
She stated Ruben proceeded to conduct the "candy game" with six children that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the next day.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that point," she continued.
The oversight body, the police conduct office, previously told that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
The legal representative stated the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so the stepson contacted the law enforcement a second time.
She said the man then played the "candy game" in a area of five children.
