Man confesses to sexual offenses against children at summer program

A man who contaminated sweets with sedative and distributed them to minors at a youth camp in Leicestershire has admitted sexual crimes against two children who were 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 the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he was present at the courthouse on Friday.

Nevertheless, he refused to admit one particular crime he was charged with, which was concerning a young boy.

The defendant was remanded in custody ahead of a additional proceeding on 28 November.

'Sweet game'

Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, detailed Ruben's offending to the judicial body.

She explained his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were staying at a summer program which he ran.

The defendant played a "candy game" with the children, the prosecutor said, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were settling down and request they to consume candy "as fast as possible".

She told the court Ruben had conducted this practice with the young males "over an extended period", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the following morning.

She explained Ruben had been able to explain this over a long period as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had concerns in summer 2025.

The legal representative continued: "In the summer" his family member had concerns about the situation, for good reason.

"They decided to have a look in the man's possessions."

The legal counsel stated objects including baby oil, petroleum jelly and injection devices were found, and his stepchild contacted the authorities about his worries.

She stated the defendant continued to play the "sweet game" with six boys that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the next day.

"Law enforcement" had not responded by that time," she stated further.

The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.

The prosecutor stated the children were struggling to walk due to being ill, so the family member contacted the authorities once more.

She stated the man then played the "candy game" in a room of five minors.