Person pleads guilty to sexual crimes targeting young males at youth camp
A man who spiked treats with sedative and provided them to youngsters at a summer program in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two children who were nine and 10.
The defendant was detained after eight youngsters and an older person experienced illness at the facility in July.
The senior citizen, from that region, admitted guilt to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
Nevertheless, he denied a single sexual charge he was facing, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
The accused was kept in jail prior to a subsequent court date on late November.
'Sweet game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, described the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She stated his victims were under-privileged children who were staying at a youth camp which he ran.
Ruben conducted a "sweet game" with the children, the legal counsel said, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to consume candy "rapidly".
She told the court Ruben had played this game with the children "over an extended period", and minors had earlier experienced illness the following morning.
She said the defendant had been able to explain this repeatedly as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had suspicions in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "This year his family member had worries about the situation, with valid cause.
"They chose" to examine in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor stated items including lubricant, ointment and injection devices were discovered, and his family member notified the police about his suspicions.
She explained Ruben went on to engage in the "sweet game" with six boys that night - that Saturday - and they were all sick the next day.
"Authorities" had not responded by that time," she continued.
The oversight body, the police conduct office, previously told that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the situation.
Mrs Prior stated the children were struggling to walk due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson notified the authorities again.
She explained the man then conducted the "sweet game" in a space of five children.
