Person pleads guilty to sexual crimes against young males at summer program
A man who contaminated candy with sleeping medication and provided them to children at a summer camp in the region has admitted sexual crimes against two children aged nine and 10.
The defendant was detained after eight youngsters and a grown-up experienced illness at Stathern Lodge in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from that region, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at the courthouse on Friday.
However, he denied one particular crime he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
The defendant was held in detention ahead of a subsequent court date on 28 November.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, presenting evidence, detailed Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She said his those affected were under-privileged children who were attending a youth camp which he operated.
The defendant played a "treat game" with the minors, Mrs Prior explained, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to consume candy "rapidly".
She told the court the man had played this game with the young males "for many years", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She said Ruben had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the youngsters being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had worries in summer 2025.
The prosecutor added: "Recently" his family member had worries about the activities, justifiably.
"They resolved" to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor said objects including lubricant, Vaseline and syringes were discovered, and his stepson notified the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She explained the defendant continued to play the "treat game" with six children that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the next day.
"The police had not gone out by that point," she added.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, earlier informed that it was investigating Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
The prosecutor stated the children were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so the family member notified the police a second time.
She stated the defendant then engaged in the "candy game" in a area of five youngsters.
