Person pleads guilty to sex offences targeting young males at summer camp
An individual who contaminated sweets with sleeping medication and distributed them to youngsters at a summer camp in the area has confessed to sexual offenses against two young males aged nine and 10.
The defendant was arrested after eight minors and a grown-up experienced illness at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was facing, which was involving a young boy.
The accused was held in detention ahead of a further hearing on November 28th.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, outlined the defendant's actions to the court.
She explained his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a youth camp which he managed.
The defendant conducted a "candy game" with the minors, the legal counsel said, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to ingest treats "rapidly".
She told the court the defendant had played this game with the young males "repeatedly", and minors had previously fallen ill the next day.
She stated the man had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had concerns in recently.
The prosecutor continued: "This year his stepson had concerns about what was going on, for good reason.
"They decided to have a look in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel explained materials including infant oil, ointment and syringes were located, and his stepson contacted the police about his suspicions.
She said the man proceeded to conduct the "candy game" with six boys that time - that Saturday - and they were all sick the next day.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that stage," she added.
The regulatory agency, the police conduct office, had stated that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the events.
The legal representative said the children were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson notified the authorities once more.
She explained the defendant then played the "candy game" in a area of five children.
