Man pleads guilty to sexual offenses targeting children at summer camp
A man who contaminated treats with sleeping medication and provided them to minors at a summer program in the area has confessed to sexual offenses against two boys aged nine and 10.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight minors and an older person experienced illness at Stathern Lodge in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he stood at the judicial center on Friday.
Yet, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was kept in jail ahead of a subsequent court date on late November.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, described Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She explained his victims were under-privileged children who were participating in a youth camp which he ran.
Ruben engaged in a "treat game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel said, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and tell them to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings the man had conducted this practice with the young males "over an extended period", and minors had previously fallen ill the next day.
She said the man had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had suspicions in summer 2025.
The legal representative added: "In the summer" his stepchild had concerns about what was going on, for good reason.
"They chose" to have a look in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC explained materials including infant oil, Vaseline and injection devices were found, and his stepson notified the law enforcement about his worries.
She stated the man went on to play the "treat game" with six children that evening - that Saturday - and they were all ill the following morning.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that stage," she continued.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, had stated that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the events.
The prosecutor explained the minors were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so the stepson notified the police again.
She said the defendant then played the "sweet game" in a area of five youngsters.
