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A man who contaminated sweets with sedative and gave them to children at a summer camp in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two young males aged between nine and ten.

Jon Ruben was arrested after eight children and a grown-up became sick at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.

The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, admitted guilt to a series of 17 offences when he was present at the judicial center on Friday.

Nevertheless, he denied one particular crime he was charged with, which was concerning a young boy.

The accused was remanded in custody ahead of a subsequent court date on November 28th.

'Sweet game'

The legal representative, handling the case, detailed Ruben's offending to the court.

She said his victims were under-privileged children who were staying at a summer camp which he operated.

Ruben engaged in a "sweet game" with the minors, the legal counsel said, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to ingest treats "rapidly".

She told the court the man had conducted this practice with the boys "for many years", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the next day.

She stated the defendant had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the youngsters being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had worries in recently.

The prosecutor stated further: "This year his stepson had concerns about what was going on, with valid cause.

"They decided to have a look in the man's possessions."

Mrs Prior KC said objects including baby oil, ointment and medical needles were discovered, and his stepchild contacted the law enforcement about his suspicions.

She stated Ruben continued to play the "treat game" with six youngsters that evening - July 26th - and they were all sick the following morning.

"Authorities" had not gone out by that time," she continued.

The oversight body, the police conduct office, previously told that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the situation.

Mrs Prior stated the children were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so the family member contacted the authorities again.

She said the defendant then engaged in the "treat game" in a room of five minors.