Individual pleads guilty to sex offences targeting children at summer program
A man who spiked sweets with sleeping medication and provided them to minors at a summer camp in the area has admitted sexual offenses against two boys who were between nine and ten.
The defendant was arrested after eight youngsters and one adult fell ill at the location in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, admitted guilt to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at the courthouse on recently.
Yet, he disputed a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was involving a young boy.
The accused was remanded in custody before a additional proceeding on late November.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, presenting evidence, outlined the defendant's actions to the court.
She said his victims were under-privileged children who were attending a youth camp which he managed.
The man conducted a "sweet game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior said, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had engaged in this activity with the young males "over an extended period", and children had previously become sick the subsequent day.
She explained Ruben had been capable of justifying this for many years as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had concerns in July 2025.
The prosecutor added: "Recently" his stepchild had concerns about what was going on, with valid cause.
"They chose" to have a look in the individual's items."
The legal counsel said items including lubricant, petroleum jelly and medical needles were discovered, and his family member contacted the authorities about his suspicions.
She stated the defendant went on to play the "sweet game" with six youngsters that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the next day.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that point," she continued.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the events.
The prosecutor stated the children were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so the family member contacted the law enforcement a second time.
She explained the defendant then conducted the "treat game" in a room of five children.
