Individual pleads guilty to sexual crimes targeting young males at summer program
A man who laced candy with sleeping medication and gave them to youngsters at a youth camp in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two boys both nine and ten years old.
The defendant was detained after eight minors and one adult became sick at the facility in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he stood at the judicial center on Friday.
However, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was kept in jail ahead of a subsequent court date on late November.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, described Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She explained his victims were under-privileged children who were staying at a summer camp which he ran.
The man engaged in a "candy game" with the youngsters, the prosecutor stated, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and tell them to ingest treats "rapidly".
She stated to the judge the man had engaged in this activity with the young males "repeatedly", and minors had previously become sick the following morning.
She said the defendant had been able to explain this for many years as the youngsters being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had suspicions in recently.
The legal representative continued: "In the summer" his stepson had concerns about the situation, justifiably.
"They chose" to investigate in the defendant's belongings."
Mrs Prior KC said materials including infant oil, Vaseline and injection devices were discovered, and his stepchild alerted the authorities about his suspicions.
She explained Ruben went on to play the "sweet game" with six boys that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the next day.
"The police had not responded by that stage," she added.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
The legal representative explained the youngsters were struggling to walk due to being ill, so the family member notified the police again.
She stated the defendant then engaged in the "sweet game" in a room of five youngsters.
