Man pleads guilty to sex offences targeting children at summer program
A man who laced candy with tranquilliser and distributed them to minors at a summer camp in Leicestershire has admitted sexual offenses against two young males aged nine and ten years old.
The defendant was detained after eight minors and a grown-up experienced illness at the facility in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at the courthouse on the end of the week.
However, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was held in detention before a further hearing on 28 November.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, presenting evidence, detailed the criminal behavior to the legal proceedings.
She stated his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a youth camp which he operated.
Ruben played a "treat game" with the children, the legal counsel explained, in which he would access the sleeping quarters when they were preparing to sleep and request they to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She stated to the judge the man had played this game with the boys "for many years", and minors had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She explained the defendant had been capable of justifying this for many years as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had concerns in summer 2025.
The prosecutor added: "This year his stepchild had worries about the situation, for good reason.
"They resolved" to examine in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor said objects including lubricant, petroleum jelly and injection devices were found, and his family member alerted the authorities about his concerns.
She explained Ruben continued to play the "sweet game" with six children that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the following morning.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that time," she added.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was examining law enforcement's management of the events.
The legal representative said the youngsters were struggling to walk due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson contacted the police again.
She explained the man then conducted the "treat game" in a room of five youngsters.
