Person pleads guilty to sexual offenses targeting children at summer camp
An individual who laced sweets with tranquilliser and provided them to children at a youth camp in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual offences against two children aged between nine and ten.
The accused was detained after eight youngsters and an older person experienced illness at Stathern Lodge in July.
The 76-year-old, from that region, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
However, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was remanded in custody prior to a subsequent court date on 28 November.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, outlined the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She stated his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a summer program which he operated.
The man played a "sweet game" with the minors, the prosecutor stated, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and tell them to consume candy "rapidly".
She informed the proceedings the man had played this game with the children "for many years", and minors had previously fallen ill the next day.
She said Ruben had been capable of justifying this for many years as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his family member had concerns in summer 2025.
The legal representative stated further: "Recently" his family member had suspicions about what was going on, for good reason.
"They chose" to investigate in the individual's items."
The prosecutor said objects including lubricant, Vaseline and medical needles were discovered, and his stepson notified the authorities about his suspicions.
She stated Ruben continued to conduct the "candy game" with six youngsters that evening - that Saturday - and they were everyone unwell the following morning.
"Authorities" had not gone out by that point," she continued.
The oversight body, the police conduct office, had stated that it was investigating the police response of the situation.
The legal representative explained the minors were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson contacted the law enforcement again.
She explained the defendant then conducted the "sweet game" in a area of five minors.
