Person confesses to sex offences against children at summer camp
A person who contaminated candy with sleeping medication and provided them to children at a summer program in Leicestershire has admitted sexual offenses against two children aged nine and ten years old.
The accused was detained after eight minors and an older person experienced illness at the location in July.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at the judicial center on Friday.
However, he denied a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was against a nine-year-old child.
The defendant was remanded in custody prior to a additional proceeding on late November.
'Sweet game'
The legal representative, presenting evidence, described the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She said his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were participating in a summer camp which he operated.
The man engaged in a "sweet game" with the youngsters, the prosecutor explained, in which he would enter the sleeping quarters when they were preparing to sleep and request they to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had conducted this practice with the boys "over an extended period", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She said Ruben had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had concerns in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "Recently" his stepson had suspicions about the activities, for good reason.
"They resolved" to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
Mrs Prior KC explained objects including baby oil, petroleum jelly and syringes were discovered, and his stepson alerted the police about his concerns.
She said the defendant proceeded to engage in the "sweet game" with six youngsters that evening - July 26th - and they were all sick the next day.
"The police had not responded by that point," she added.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was reviewing the police response of the events.
The prosecutor explained the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so the stepson called the police again.
She stated Ruben then played the "sweet game" in a space of five youngsters.
