Person pleads guilty to sex offences involving young males at youth camp

A person who laced treats with sedative and provided them to children at a summer camp in the area has admitted sexual offenses against two young males both nine and 10.

The accused was arrested after eight youngsters and an older person experienced illness at the facility in July.

The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.

However, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was facing, which was against a young boy.

The defendant was kept in jail prior to a additional proceeding on November 28th.

'Candy game'

The prosecutor, prosecuting, detailed the defendant's actions to the judicial body.

She explained his those affected were under-privileged children who were attending a summer camp which he ran.

The man played a "candy game" with the children, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and request they to consume candy "rapidly".

She informed the proceedings the man had conducted this practice with the children "over an extended period", and minors had previously fallen ill the following morning.

She stated Ruben had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had concerns in summer 2025.

The prosecutor continued: "Recently" his family member had concerns about the activities, justifiably.

"They decided to have a look in the individual's items."

Mrs Prior KC stated items including lubricant, petroleum jelly and syringes were discovered, and his stepson contacted the police about his suspicions.

She said the defendant continued to conduct the "sweet game" with six children that night - that Saturday - and they were all sick the subsequent day.

"Authorities" had not gone out by that point," she stated further.

The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the situation.

Mrs Prior stated the children were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so the stepson notified the police once more.

She said the defendant then conducted the "sweet game" in a space of five minors.