Man pleads guilty to sex offences involving young males at summer program
A person who contaminated candy with sleeping medication and gave them to children at a youth camp in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two children aged between nine and ten.
The defendant was detained after eight children and an older person fell ill at the location in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from that region, admitted guilt to a total of 17 charges when he stood at the courthouse on the end of the week.
Nevertheless, he denied one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
The defendant was held in detention before a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Candy game'
The prosecutor, presenting evidence, described the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She said his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were staying at a summer program which he operated.
The man conducted a "treat game" with the minors, Mrs Prior said, 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 stated to the judge the man had played this game with the boys "over an extended period", and minors had earlier experienced illness the following morning.
She said the man had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had suspicions in July 2025.
The legal representative stated further: "This year his stepchild had concerns about the situation, for good reason.
"They chose" to investigate in the defendant's belongings."
The legal counsel said items including lubricant, petroleum jelly and syringes were located, and his stepchild alerted the police about his concerns.
She said Ruben proceeded to play the "candy game" with six children that time - July 26th - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that stage," she added.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was examining law enforcement's management of the situation.
Mrs Prior explained the youngsters were struggling to walk due to their condition, so the stepson contacted the police again.
She stated the man then played the "treat game" in a area of five minors.
