🔗 Share this article Individual confesses to sexual crimes targeting children at youth camp The accused admitted 17 offences at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week An individual who laced treats with sleeping medication and distributed them to minors at a summer program in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual crimes against two boys who were nine and ten years old. The accused was arrested after eight youngsters and one adult fell ill at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer. The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he was present at the judicial center on recently. Nevertheless, he denied a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was against a nine-year-old boy. The accused was held in detention before a subsequent court date on late November. 'Candy game' The legal representative, presenting evidence, described Ruben's offending to the judicial body. She stated his those affected were under-privileged children who were staying at a summer camp which he operated. The man played a "sweet game" with the children, Mrs Prior said, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to consume candy "as fast as possible". She told the court the defendant had engaged in this activity with the children "repeatedly", and children had previously fallen ill the following morning. She stated the man had been capable of justifying this for many years as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had suspicions in recently. Mrs Prior KC continued: "Recently" his family member had worries about the activities, with valid cause. "They decided to examine in the individual's items." The prosecutor stated items including lubricant, petroleum jelly and medical needles were found, and his family member notified the police about his concerns. She stated Ruben continued to play the "candy game" with six children that night - that Saturday - and they were all sick the next day. "Authorities" had not arrived by that stage," she stated further. The regulatory agency, the investigative body, previously told that it was investigating the police response of the events. The prosecutor said the minors were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson called the law enforcement once more. She stated the defendant then played the "sweet game" in a area of five youngsters.