Man pleads guilty to sex offences against young males at youth camp

A man who spiked candy with tranquilliser and provided them to youngsters at a summer camp in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual crimes against two young males both nine and 10.

The defendant was taken into custody after eight children and an older person became sick at the location in the summer month.

The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, admitted guilt to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at the courthouse on recently.

Yet, he refused to admit one particular crime he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old child.

Ruben was kept in jail before a further hearing on 28 November.

'Sweet game'

Mary Prior KC, handling the case, outlined the criminal behavior to the judicial body.

She explained his targets were under-privileged children who were participating in a summer program which he operated.

Ruben conducted a "sweet game" with the children, Mrs Prior explained, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were settling down and tell them to consume candy "rapidly".

She informed the proceedings the defendant had played this game with the young males "for many years", and children had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.

She explained the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had suspicions in summer 2025.

The legal representative added: "In the summer" his stepchild had worries about the activities, with valid cause.

"They decided to examine in the defendant's belongings."

The legal counsel stated items including infant oil, petroleum jelly and syringes were located, and his stepson contacted the authorities about his worries.

She said Ruben continued to conduct the "sweet game" with six boys that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the following morning.

"Authorities" had not gone out by that time," she added.

The police watchdog, the police conduct office, previously told that it was examining law enforcement's management of the incident.

The prosecutor said the minors were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson notified the law enforcement again.

She said the man then played the "sweet game" in a space of five children.