Man pleads guilty to sexual crimes targeting children at summer camp
A man who laced treats with sedative and distributed them to children at a youth camp in the area has admitted sexual offenses 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 facility in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at the courthouse on Friday.
Yet, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was remanded in custody before a additional proceeding on late November.
'Candy game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, outlined Ruben's offending to the court.
She stated his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were staying at a summer program which he managed.
The defendant conducted a "candy game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior explained, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and request they to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She told the court Ruben had played this game with the children "repeatedly", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She said the man had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overstimulated by activities", until his family member had suspicions in recently.
The prosecutor added: "This year his stepchild had worries about what was going on, for good reason.
"They chose" to investigate in the defendant's belongings."
Mrs Prior KC stated materials including lubricant, ointment and syringes were found, and his family member alerted the police about his concerns.
She explained Ruben proceeded to conduct the "sweet game" with six boys that time - July 26th - and they were all ill the following morning.
"The police had not gone out by that point," she added.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, had stated that it was investigating the police response of the incident.
Mrs Prior stated the children were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so the family member contacted the law enforcement a second time.
She explained Ruben then conducted the "sweet game" in a space of five minors.
