Man pleads guilty to sex offences involving children at youth camp
An individual who spiked treats with sedative and distributed them to children at a youth camp in the region has admitted sexual offenses against two children who were nine and ten years old.
The accused was taken into custody after eight children and an older person fell ill at the location in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, admitted guilt to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at the courthouse on the end of the week.
However, he disputed one particular crime he was charged with, which was against a young boy.
The accused was kept in jail before a further hearing on late November.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, handling the case, described the defendant's actions to the court.
She stated his targets were under-privileged children who were attending a summer camp which he ran.
The man played a "sweet game" with the minors, the prosecutor explained, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and request they to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She told the court the defendant had played this game with the boys "over an extended period", and youngsters had previously become sick the next day.
She stated Ruben had been able to explain this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had suspicions in recently.
The prosecutor stated further: "In the summer" his stepchild had suspicions about the situation, with valid cause.
"They chose" to investigate in the individual's items."
The prosecutor stated materials including baby oil, ointment and medical needles were found, and his stepson contacted the police about his worries.
She stated the defendant proceeded to engage in the "candy game" with six boys that time - July 26th - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"The police had not responded by that stage," she continued.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, previously told that it was reviewing the police response of the incident.
The legal representative said the children were struggling to walk due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson notified the authorities a second time.
She explained Ruben then engaged in the "sweet game" in a room of five children.
