🔗 Share this article

A person who contaminated treats with sleeping medication and distributed them to youngsters at a summer camp in the region has confessed to sexual crimes against two children aged between nine and ten.

The defendant was taken into custody after eight youngsters and a grown-up became sick at the location in July.

The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, admitted guilt to a multiple criminal counts when he was present at the judicial center on recently.

However, he refused to admit one particular crime he was accused of, which was against a young boy.

The defendant was remanded in custody ahead of a further hearing on late November.

'Candy game'

The prosecutor, presenting evidence, outlined the criminal behavior to the judicial body.

She said his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a summer program which he ran.

Ruben engaged in a "sweet game" with the minors, the legal counsel said, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and ask them to consume candy "as quickly as they can".

She told the court the defendant had engaged in this activity with the young males "repeatedly", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.

She said Ruben had been able to explain this for many years as the youngsters being "overstimulated by activities", until his family member had suspicions in July 2025.

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

"They chose" to have a look in the individual's items."

The legal counsel explained materials including infant oil, ointment and injection devices were located, and his stepson alerted the authorities about his concerns.

She stated Ruben proceeded to play the "treat game" with six youngsters that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the following morning.

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

The police watchdog, the investigative body, had stated that it was investigating Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.

The legal representative said the children were unable to walk properly due to their condition, so the family member notified the law enforcement once more.

She stated Ruben then played the "sweet game" in a room of five children.