Individual pleads guilty to sexual offenses against boys at youth camp
A man who laced sweets with tranquilliser and provided them to children at a summer program in the region has admitted sexual offenses against two boys aged between nine and ten.
The accused was arrested after eight children and a grown-up fell ill at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
However, he disputed one particular crime he was facing, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was remanded in custody before a additional proceeding on November 28th.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, handling the case, detailed the criminal behavior to the court.
She stated his victims were under-privileged children who were staying at a youth camp which he ran.
The man played a "candy game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would access 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 Ruben had played this game with the children "for many years", and children had previously become sick the next day.
She explained Ruben had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had concerns in July 2025.
The prosecutor stated further: "Recently" his stepson had concerns about the situation, for good reason.
"They decided to investigate in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor stated objects including infant oil, petroleum jelly and medical needles were located, and his family member alerted the authorities about his concerns.
She stated the man went on to conduct the "candy game" with six boys that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that stage," she added.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
The prosecutor said the minors were unable to walk properly due to their condition, so the stepson contacted the police a second time.
She said the defendant then engaged in the "candy game" in a room of five youngsters.
