Man confesses to sex offences against children at summer program

A man who laced candy with tranquilliser and provided them to children at a youth camp in the region has admitted sexual offenses against two young males who were nine and ten years old.

The defendant was taken into custody after eight youngsters and an older person fell ill at the facility in July.

The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, admitted guilt to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at the judicial center on the end of the week.

Yet, he denied one particular crime he was charged with, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.

The accused was kept in jail prior to a further hearing on late November.

'Candy game'

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

She explained his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a summer camp which he operated.

Ruben played a "treat game" with the minors, the legal counsel explained, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and tell them to ingest treats "rapidly".

She informed the proceedings the defendant had engaged in this activity with the children "over an extended period", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.

She explained Ruben had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had worries in recently.

The legal representative stated further: "Recently" his stepchild had suspicions about what was going on, justifiably.

"They decided to investigate in the man's possessions."

Mrs Prior KC explained items including lubricant, petroleum jelly and medical needles were located, and his stepchild alerted the authorities about his worries.

She explained the defendant went on to conduct the "candy game" with six children that time - that Saturday - and they were all ill the subsequent day.

"Authorities" had not arrived by that point," she continued.

The oversight body, the police conduct office, earlier informed that it was investigating the police response of the events.

The legal representative explained the minors were unable to walk properly due to their condition, so Ruben's stepson called the police a second time.

She said the man then engaged in the "candy game" in a space of five minors.