Man admits sexual offenses targeting children at youth camp
A man who contaminated treats with sedative and provided them to minors at a summer program in the area has admitted sexual crimes against two boys both nine and ten years old.
The accused was taken into custody after eight youngsters and a grown-up fell ill at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, admitted guilt to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
However, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was kept in jail before a further hearing on November 28th.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, detailed Ruben's offending to the court.
She stated his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a summer program which he managed.
The defendant engaged in a "candy game" with the minors, Mrs Prior explained, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to consume candy "rapidly".
She told the court the man had conducted this practice with the young males "repeatedly", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She said the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had concerns in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "Recently" his family member had worries about the situation, justifiably.
"They chose" to examine in the individual's items."
The legal counsel said materials including lubricant, Vaseline and syringes were found, and his stepson contacted the police about his suspicions.
She stated Ruben continued to conduct the "sweet game" with six youngsters that time - July 26th - and they were everyone unwell the next day.
"The police had not gone out by that stage," she continued.
The oversight body, the police conduct office, previously told that it was examining law enforcement's management of the situation.
The prosecutor explained the children were struggling to walk due to being ill, so the stepson notified the authorities again.
She explained Ruben then played the "candy game" in a space of five children.
