Man pleads guilty to sexual offenses targeting children at summer program
A man who laced sweets with sedative and gave them to children at a summer camp in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two children both between nine and ten.
The defendant was detained after eight youngsters and an older person became sick at the facility in July.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, admitted guilt to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at the judicial center on Friday.
Yet, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
The defendant was kept in jail ahead of a further hearing on November 28th.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, handling the case, outlined Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She said his victims were under-privileged children who were participating in a summer program which he managed.
The defendant played a "treat game" with the youngsters, the prosecutor explained, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were settling down and request they to eat sweets "rapidly".
She told the court Ruben had played this game with the children "repeatedly", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She said the defendant had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had worries in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC continued: "In the summer" his stepson had concerns about the activities, with valid cause.
"They chose" to examine in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor said objects including baby oil, Vaseline and injection devices were found, and his stepson notified the police about his concerns.
She said the defendant proceeded to engage in the "sweet game" with six youngsters that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the next day.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that time," she continued.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, previously told that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the situation.
Mrs Prior said the children were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so the family member notified the police once more.
She explained Ruben then conducted the "treat game" in a area of five youngsters.
