Person pleads guilty to sexual crimes involving young males at youth camp
An individual who contaminated candy with sedative and distributed them to youngsters at a summer program in the region has confessed to sexual offenses against two children aged nine and ten years old.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight youngsters and a grown-up became sick at the location in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at the judicial center on recently.
However, he denied one particular crime he was facing, which was against a young boy.
The accused was remanded in custody before a additional proceeding on late November.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, detailed the criminal behavior to the legal proceedings.
She stated his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a summer program which he ran.
The man conducted a "candy game" with the children, the prosecutor stated, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were settling down and ask them to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had engaged in this activity with the children "repeatedly", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She explained the man had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had concerns in summer 2025.
The legal representative stated further: "In the summer" his family member had concerns about the situation, for good reason.
"They chose" to investigate in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor said objects including lubricant, petroleum jelly and injection devices were located, and his stepchild contacted the police about his suspicions.
She explained Ruben proceeded to conduct the "treat game" with six children that evening - that Saturday - and they were everyone unwell the next day.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that point," she continued.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, previously told that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the situation.
Mrs Prior stated the children were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so the stepson contacted the law enforcement a second time.
She stated the man then conducted the "sweet game" in a room of five youngsters.