Person pleads guilty to sexual crimes against children at summer program
A person who contaminated treats with sedative and distributed them to children at a summer camp in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two boys who were nine and ten years old.
The accused was arrested after eight youngsters and an older person experienced illness at the location in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from that region, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
Nevertheless, he denied one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
The defendant was remanded in custody prior to a subsequent court date on late November.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, detailed Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She stated his victims were under-privileged children who were staying at a summer camp which he managed.
The man conducted a "candy game" with the youngsters, the prosecutor explained, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She told the court Ruben had engaged in this activity with the boys "repeatedly", and children had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She stated the man had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had worries in summer 2025.
The legal representative continued: "This year his family member had suspicions about what was going on, for good reason.
"They decided to have a look in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor stated objects including lubricant, ointment and medical needles were located, and his stepchild alerted the law enforcement about his concerns.
She said the defendant went on to play the "treat game" with six boys that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the following morning.
"Authorities" had not gone out by that stage," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the police conduct office, earlier informed that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the incident.
The prosecutor stated the children were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so the stepson notified the authorities once more.
She said the defendant then engaged in the "candy game" in a area of five youngsters.
