Man pleads guilty to sex offences involving children at summer program
A person who spiked candy with tranquilliser and provided them to youngsters at a summer camp in the area has confessed to sexual offences against two young males both nine and 10.
The defendant was arrested after eight children and an older person experienced illness at the location in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he was present at the courthouse on recently.
However, he denied one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was concerning a young boy.
The accused was kept in jail before a subsequent court date on late November.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, detailed the criminal behavior to the judicial body.
She stated his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a youth camp which he ran.
The man played a "candy game" with the minors, the prosecutor stated, in which he would access the sleeping quarters when they were getting ready for bed and request they to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings the man had conducted this practice with the children "for many years", and minors had previously become sick the following morning.
She stated the man had been able to explain this for many years as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had suspicions in recently.
The prosecutor added: "This year his stepchild had suspicions about the activities, for good reason.
"They chose" to have a look in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC explained items including lubricant, petroleum jelly and injection devices were located, and his stepchild contacted the authorities about his concerns.
She said Ruben went on to play the "sweet game" with six youngsters that evening - that Saturday - and they were all sick the next day.
"The police had not responded by that time," she stated further.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was investigating the police response of the situation.
The legal representative said the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so the stepson notified the police once more.
She explained the man then conducted the "treat game" in a room of five youngsters.
