Individual pleads guilty to sexual crimes against young males at youth camp

A man who contaminated sweets with tranquilliser and gave them to youngsters at a youth camp in the area has admitted sexual crimes against two boys aged nine and 10.

The accused was detained after eight minors and a grown-up experienced illness at the location in July.

The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he stood at the courthouse on Friday.

However, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was against a nine-year-old child.

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

'Treat game'

The legal representative, presenting evidence, described the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.

She stated his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a summer camp which he ran.

Ruben engaged in a "sweet game" with the minors, the legal counsel stated, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were settling down and ask them to consume candy "as fast as possible".

She told the court the defendant had conducted this practice with the children "for many years", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the following morning.

She said the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had suspicions in July 2025.

The prosecutor stated further: "This year his stepson had worries about the situation, for good reason.

"They resolved" to investigate in the defendant's belongings."

The legal counsel stated objects including lubricant, ointment and medical needles were discovered, and his stepchild notified the authorities about his concerns.

She said Ruben went on to play the "sweet game" with six youngsters that time - July 26th - and they were all sick the subsequent day.

"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that stage," she stated further.

The police watchdog, the police conduct office, previously told that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the incident.

The legal representative said the minors were struggling to walk due to their condition, so the family member contacted the police once more.

She said the man then played the "treat game" in a area of five minors.