Man admits sex offences targeting children at youth camp
A person who spiked candy with tranquilliser and provided them to minors at a summer camp in the area has confessed to sexual offences against two young males aged nine and ten years old.
The accused was detained after eight minors and one adult fell ill at the location in the summer month.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
Yet, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was against a young boy.
The defendant was held in detention before a further hearing on late November.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, outlined the criminal behavior to the legal proceedings.
She explained his victims were under-privileged children who were staying at a youth camp which he managed.
Ruben engaged in a "sweet game" with the minors, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and tell them to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had engaged in this activity with the boys "over an extended period", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She stated the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had worries in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC added: "In the summer" his family member had suspicions about what was going on, with valid cause.
"They chose" to investigate in the individual's items."
The prosecutor explained items including baby oil, ointment and injection devices were found, and his stepchild notified the police about his concerns.
She explained Ruben continued to conduct the "sweet game" with six youngsters that night - that Saturday - and they were all sick the next day.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that point," she stated further.
The oversight body, the police conduct office, had stated that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the incident.
Mrs Prior stated the minors were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson called the authorities once more.
She stated the man then conducted the "treat game" in a area of five minors.
