Person admits sex offences targeting children at youth camp
An individual who contaminated sweets with sleeping medication and provided them to children at a summer camp in the region has admitted sexual offences against two young males aged nine and 10.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight minors and an older person experienced illness at Stathern Lodge in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
Yet, he refused to admit one particular crime he was accused of, which was against a young boy.
The accused was held in detention prior to a further hearing on 28 November.
'Sweet game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, detailed Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She said his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a youth camp which he managed.
The defendant engaged in a "candy game" with the children, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She told the court the defendant had conducted this practice with the young males "over an extended period", and minors had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She explained Ruben had been capable of justifying this for many years as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had worries in recently.
The prosecutor stated further: "This year his family member had worries about what was going on, with valid cause.
"They resolved" to investigate in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor said items including infant oil, Vaseline and injection devices were discovered, and his family member alerted the police about his worries.
She stated the man proceeded to conduct the "treat game" with six children that evening - July 26th - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that time," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was examining law enforcement's management of the incident.
Mrs Prior explained the children were struggling to walk due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson contacted the law enforcement again.
She explained the man then played the "candy game" in a room of five children.
