Individual pleads guilty to sexual crimes involving children at youth camp
A person who spiked sweets with sleeping medication and gave them to children at a summer camp in the area has admitted sexual crimes against two boys both nine and 10.
The accused was taken into custody after eight youngsters and a grown-up experienced illness at Stathern Lodge in the summer month.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
Yet, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was against a young boy.
Ruben was remanded in custody ahead of a additional proceeding on November 28th.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, handling the case, detailed the criminal behavior to the court.
She said his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a youth camp which he managed.
The man engaged in a "treat game" with the children, the prosecutor stated, in which he would access the sleeping quarters when they were preparing to sleep and tell them to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings the man had engaged in this activity with the boys "over an extended period", and youngsters had previously become sick the next day.
She stated Ruben had been able to explain this for many years as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had suspicions in July 2025.
The prosecutor stated further: "In the summer" his stepson had suspicions about the situation, justifiably.
"They chose" to investigate in the individual's items."
The prosecutor said items including infant oil, Vaseline and injection devices were found, and his family member alerted the authorities about his worries.
She stated Ruben continued to conduct the "treat game" with six children that evening - July 26th - and they were all ill the following morning.
"The police had not gone out by that point," she stated further.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was investigating Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
The prosecutor said the children were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so the stepson contacted the authorities again.
She explained the man then conducted the "sweet game" in a room of five youngsters.
