Person pleads guilty to sex offences involving children at youth camp
A person who laced candy with sedative and distributed them to youngsters at a summer program in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two children aged nine and ten years old.
The accused was taken into custody after eight minors and an older person experienced illness at the facility in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at the courthouse on recently.
Yet, he denied a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was held in detention before a additional proceeding on November 28th.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, described the defendant's actions to the court.
She said his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a youth camp which he ran.
Ruben conducted a "candy game" with the children, the prosecutor stated, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were settling down and ask them to consume candy "rapidly".
She told the court the defendant had engaged in this activity with the children "for many years", and minors had previously become sick the subsequent day.
She explained Ruben had been capable of justifying this for many years as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had suspicions in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "In the summer" his stepchild had suspicions about what was going on, with valid cause.
"They resolved" to have a look in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel explained items including lubricant, ointment and medical needles were found, and his stepchild contacted the police about his worries.
She stated Ruben continued to play the "treat game" with six youngsters that time - July 26th - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that stage," she added.
The regulatory agency, the police conduct office, had stated that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the situation.
The prosecutor explained the youngsters were struggling to walk due to their condition, so Ruben's stepson notified the authorities a second time.
She stated the man then conducted the "candy game" in a room of five youngsters.