Man admits sex offences involving children at youth camp
A man who contaminated sweets with sedative and provided them to youngsters at a summer program in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual offenses against two boys both nine and 10.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight minors and a grown-up experienced illness at the facility in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at the judicial center on recently.
Nevertheless, he denied a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was against a nine-year-old child.
The defendant was remanded in custody ahead of a subsequent court date on 28 November.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, presenting evidence, described the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She explained his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a youth camp which he managed.
Ruben conducted a "sweet game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel said, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and request they to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She told the court Ruben had engaged in this activity with the children "repeatedly", and children had earlier experienced illness the following morning.
She explained Ruben had been able to explain this repeatedly as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his family member had worries in summer 2025.
The prosecutor stated further: "This year his stepchild had suspicions about what was going on, with valid cause.
"They decided to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
Mrs Prior KC stated objects including infant oil, ointment and injection devices were found, and his family member notified the authorities about his suspicions.
She said the man went on to conduct the "treat game" with six boys that time - that Saturday - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that time," she continued.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, previously told that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the situation.
Mrs Prior said the minors were struggling to walk due to being ill, so the family member called the police a second time.
She stated the man then engaged in the "sweet game" in a space of five youngsters.
