Person confesses to sexual crimes targeting young males at youth camp
A man who laced treats with sleeping medication and distributed them to minors at a summer camp in the area has confessed to sexual offences against two boys who were nine and 10.
The defendant was arrested after eight children and an older person became sick at Stathern Lodge in July.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at the courthouse on the end of the week.
However, he disputed one particular crime he was charged with, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was kept in jail before a further hearing on late November.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, detailed the criminal behavior to the judicial body.
She stated his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a summer camp which he managed.
The man engaged in a "sweet game" with the children, the prosecutor said, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and tell them to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".
She stated to the judge the man had engaged in this activity with the children "over an extended period", and minors had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She explained Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had concerns in summer 2025.
The legal representative added: "In the summer" his stepchild had suspicions about the situation, with valid cause.
"They resolved" to have a look in the individual's items."
The prosecutor explained items including baby oil, petroleum jelly and injection devices were found, and his stepson alerted the police about his worries.
She explained the man proceeded to conduct the "sweet game" with six youngsters that time - July 26th - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that time," she added.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the situation.
Mrs Prior stated the youngsters were unable to walk properly due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson called the law enforcement again.
She stated Ruben then engaged in the "sweet game" in a space of five minors.
