Man confesses to sex offences against children at youth camp
A man who spiked candy with sleeping medication and distributed them to minors at a youth camp in Leicestershire has admitted sexual offences against two children both nine and 10.
The defendant was arrested after eight youngsters and one adult experienced illness at the facility in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from that region, admitted guilt to a total of 17 charges when he was present at the courthouse on recently.
However, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
The accused was kept in jail before a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, outlined Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She stated his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a summer program which he operated.
Ruben conducted a "candy game" with the minors, the legal counsel stated, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were settling down and ask them to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She stated to the judge Ruben had played this game with the children "repeatedly", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the following morning.
She explained the defendant had been able to explain this repeatedly as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had concerns in summer 2025.
The legal representative continued: "Recently" his stepchild had worries about the activities, for good reason.
"They decided to investigate in the defendant's belongings."
The legal counsel stated items including lubricant, petroleum jelly and injection devices were found, and his family member alerted the police about his concerns.
She said the man proceeded to engage in the "sweet game" with six children that evening - that Saturday - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that time," she added.
The oversight body, the investigative body, previously told that it was investigating the police response of the situation.
The legal representative explained the minors were struggling to walk due to being ill, so the stepson contacted the police a second time.
She stated Ruben then conducted the "treat game" in a room of five minors.
