Man confesses to sexual offenses involving young males at summer program
A man who laced sweets with sedative and provided them to minors at a summer program in the region has confessed to sexual offenses against two young males both between nine and ten.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight children and an older person experienced illness at the facility in July.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
Yet, he denied a single sexual charge he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was kept in jail prior to a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, described Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She explained his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a summer camp which he ran.
Ruben played a "candy game" with the minors, the legal counsel stated, in which he would access the sleeping quarters when they were settling down and ask them to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had conducted this practice with the children "repeatedly", and children had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She stated the defendant had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had worries in summer 2025.
The prosecutor continued: "Recently" his stepson had concerns about the situation, for good reason.
"They chose" to examine in the defendant's belongings."
The legal counsel stated items including infant oil, petroleum jelly and medical needles were discovered, and his stepson contacted the police about his concerns.
She stated the defendant continued to play the "candy game" with six boys that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the next day.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that stage," she continued.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was investigating the police response of the events.
The prosecutor explained the youngsters were unable to walk properly due to their sickness, so the stepson called the law enforcement once more.
She said Ruben then engaged in the "candy game" in a area of five children.
