Man pleads guilty to sex offences targeting boys at youth camp

A man who spiked sweets with sedative and provided them to children at a summer camp in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual offences against two boys aged between nine and ten.

The accused was taken into custody after eight minors and one adult became sick at the facility in July.

The senior citizen, from that region, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.

Nevertheless, he denied one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was against a nine-year-old child.

The accused was kept in jail before a further hearing on 28 November.

'Treat game'

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

She said his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were participating in a summer program which he managed.

The man played a "sweet game" with the children, the legal counsel explained, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and request they to consume candy "as quickly as they can".

She stated to the judge Ruben had engaged in this activity with the boys "repeatedly", and children had earlier experienced illness the following morning.

She explained the defendant had been capable of justifying this for many years as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had concerns in recently.

The legal representative continued: "This year his stepson had suspicions about the activities, for good reason.

"They decided to examine in the defendant's belongings."

The prosecutor stated items including infant oil, Vaseline and syringes were found, and his family member notified the authorities about his suspicions.

She said the defendant continued to play the "treat game" with six youngsters that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the following morning.

"The police had not gone out by that stage," she added.

The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was reviewing the police response of the incident.

The prosecutor stated the minors were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so the stepson contacted the police a second time.

She explained the man then conducted the "sweet game" in a room of five minors.