Individual confesses to sexual offenses targeting children at summer program
A person who laced candy with tranquilliser and provided them to minors at a youth camp in the area has confessed to sexual crimes against two children both nine and ten years old.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight minors and a grown-up became sick at Stathern Lodge in July.
The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
Nevertheless, he denied one particular crime he was accused of, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
The accused was remanded in custody before a additional proceeding on late November.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, described the criminal behavior to the court.
She said his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a summer program which he managed.
The defendant conducted a "treat game" with the children, the legal counsel stated, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She told the court Ruben had engaged in this activity with the boys "over an extended period", and children had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She said the defendant had been capable of justifying this for many years as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had worries in recently.
The prosecutor added: "In the summer" his stepchild had concerns about the activities, with valid cause.
"They decided to examine in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor stated items including lubricant, ointment and syringes were discovered, and his stepchild contacted the authorities about his concerns.
She said Ruben continued to play the "treat game" with six youngsters that time - that Saturday - and they were all ill the next day.
"The police had not responded by that stage," she stated further.
The oversight body, the police conduct office, previously told that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the situation.
The legal representative said the youngsters were struggling to walk due to their condition, so the stepson contacted the police again.
She explained the man then engaged in the "candy game" in a space of five minors.
