🔗 Share this article

A person who contaminated candy with sleeping medication and distributed them to minors at a summer camp in the area has confessed to sexual offences against two young males aged nine and 10.

The defendant was detained after eight children and one adult experienced illness at the location in the summer month.

The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he stood at the courthouse on the end of the week.

However, he denied one particular crime he was charged with, which was involving a young boy.

Ruben was remanded in custody ahead of a further hearing on late November.

'Treat game'

The legal representative, presenting evidence, outlined Ruben's offending to the judicial body.

She said his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a summer program which he ran.

Ruben conducted a "treat game" with the youngsters, the prosecutor stated, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and tell them to consume candy "rapidly".

She stated to the judge the man had conducted this practice with the young males "for many years", and children had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.

She stated Ruben had been capable of justifying this for many years as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had worries in summer 2025.

Mrs Prior KC added: "This year his stepson had suspicions about the activities, for good reason.

"They resolved" to investigate in the defendant's belongings."

The legal counsel stated objects including lubricant, ointment and medical needles were located, and his stepson notified the authorities about his suspicions.

She stated Ruben proceeded to engage in the "candy game" with six children that evening - that Saturday - and they were all sick the next day.

"The police had not arrived by that point," she stated further.

The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was examining the police response of the events.

The prosecutor stated the youngsters were struggling to walk due to their condition, so Ruben's stepson contacted the law enforcement a second time.

She explained Ruben then conducted the "candy game" in a room of five children.