🔗 Share this article

A person who laced candy with tranquilliser and distributed them to minors at a summer camp in the area has admitted sexual offenses against two children 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 elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at the judicial center on recently.

Nevertheless, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was concerning a young boy.

The defendant was kept in jail before a additional proceeding on late November.

'Treat game'

Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, outlined Ruben's offending to the judicial body.

She stated his targets were under-privileged children who were staying at a youth camp which he operated.

The defendant played a "treat game" with the children, the prosecutor said, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and request they to consume candy "as fast as possible".

She stated to the judge Ruben had engaged in this activity with the young males "repeatedly", and children had earlier experienced illness the next day.

She explained the man had been able to explain this for many years as the minors being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his family member had suspicions in July 2025.

The legal representative continued: "This year his family member had worries about the activities, justifiably.

"They decided to investigate in the individual's items."

Mrs Prior KC explained objects including lubricant, Vaseline and medical needles were discovered, and his stepson notified the authorities about his concerns.

She said the defendant proceeded to conduct the "treat game" with six boys that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the subsequent day.

"Authorities" had not responded by that time," she stated further.

The police watchdog, the police conduct office, earlier informed that it was reviewing the police response of the incident.

The prosecutor explained the minors were unable to walk properly due to their sickness, so the stepson contacted the authorities again.

She stated the defendant then conducted the "treat game" in a area of five minors.