🔗 Share this article

An individual who spiked sweets with sleeping medication and distributed them to minors at a summer camp in the area has admitted sexual offences against two young males aged between nine and ten.

The accused was detained after eight youngsters and a grown-up fell ill at the facility in the summer month.

The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at the judicial center on recently.

Yet, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was concerning a young boy.

The accused was held in detention before a additional proceeding on November 28th.

'Treat game'

The prosecutor, presenting evidence, detailed Ruben's offending to the judicial body.

She explained his those affected were under-privileged children who were staying at a summer program which he managed.

The man engaged in a "sweet game" with the minors, the prosecutor said, in which he would enter the sleeping quarters when they were preparing to sleep and tell them to eat sweets "rapidly".

She stated to the judge the defendant had engaged in this activity with the boys "repeatedly", and children had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.

She explained Ruben had been able to explain this repeatedly as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had suspicions in July 2025.

The legal representative stated further: "This year his stepchild had concerns about the activities, for good reason.

"They chose" to examine in the man's possessions."

The legal counsel said materials including infant oil, Vaseline and injection devices were found, and his family member alerted the authorities about his suspicions.

She said the defendant went on to engage in the "sweet game" with six boys that time - that Saturday - and they were all sick the following morning.

"The police had not gone out by that stage," she stated further.

The regulatory agency, the police conduct office, previously told that it was examining law enforcement's management of the events.

The legal representative stated the children were unable to walk properly due to their sickness, so the family member notified the police again.

She explained the man then engaged in the "sweet game" in a area of five minors.