Man confesses to sexual offenses targeting children at summer camp
An individual who laced treats with sedative and distributed them to youngsters at a summer camp in the region has admitted sexual offenses against two boys aged nine and ten years old.
The defendant was detained after eight youngsters and an older person experienced illness at Stathern Lodge in July.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
However, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was against a young boy.
The defendant was kept in jail prior to a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, detailed the defendant's actions to the court.
She said his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a summer camp which he operated.
Ruben conducted a "candy game" with the minors, the legal counsel stated, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to eat sweets "rapidly".
She stated to the judge the defendant had played this game with the children "over an extended period", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She said the defendant had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his family member had suspicions in recently.
The prosecutor added: "This year his stepchild had concerns about the activities, for good reason.
"They chose" to investigate in the defendant's belongings."
The legal counsel said objects including baby oil, petroleum jelly and injection devices were located, and his stepchild notified the law enforcement about his concerns.
She explained the man went on to play the "treat game" with six youngsters that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the next day.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that point," she continued.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, had stated that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
The legal representative stated the children were struggling to walk due to being ill, so the family member called the police a second time.
She stated the defendant then conducted the "treat game" in a room of five children.
