Person admits sexual offenses against boys at youth camp
A man who laced candy with sleeping medication and distributed them to youngsters at a youth camp in the region has admitted sexual offenses against two boys aged between nine and ten.
The accused was arrested after eight minors and a grown-up experienced illness at the location in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
Nevertheless, he disputed one particular crime he was charged with, which was concerning a young boy.
Ruben was remanded in custody before a further hearing on late November.
'Candy game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, detailed Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She stated his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a youth camp which he operated.
The man engaged in a "sweet game" with the children, the prosecutor explained, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and ask them to eat sweets "rapidly".
She told the court Ruben had played this game with the young males "over an extended period", and minors had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She stated the man had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had suspicions in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "This year his stepson had worries about what was going on, with valid cause.
"They resolved" to investigate in the individual's items."
The prosecutor said materials including lubricant, ointment and injection devices were located, and his family member contacted the authorities about his concerns.
She stated the man proceeded to engage in the "sweet game" with six youngsters that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the next day.
"The police had not gone out by that point," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the incident.
Mrs Prior explained the children were unable to walk properly due to their condition, so the family member contacted the law enforcement again.
She said Ruben then played the "candy game" in a area of five youngsters.
