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A person who contaminated sweets with tranquilliser and gave them to youngsters at a summer program in the region has admitted sexual offenses against two boys both nine and ten years old.

Jon Ruben was detained after eight youngsters and a grown-up became sick at the facility in July.

The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he stood at the courthouse on Friday.

However, he disputed one particular crime he was accused of, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.

The accused was kept in jail prior to a additional proceeding on 28 November.

'Sweet game'

Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, described the criminal behavior to the judicial body.

She said his victims were under-privileged children who were attending a summer program which he ran.

Ruben played a "treat game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel said, in which he would access the sleeping quarters when they were settling down and tell them to eat sweets "as fast as possible".

She stated to the judge the man had engaged in this activity with the children "for many years", and children had earlier experienced illness the next day.

She said Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the youngsters being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had concerns in recently.

Mrs Prior KC added: "Recently" his family member had worries about the situation, for good reason.

"They decided to have a look in the individual's items."

The legal counsel said objects including infant oil, petroleum jelly and syringes were located, and his family member contacted the law enforcement about his worries.

She explained the defendant proceeded to engage in the "candy game" with six children that time - that Saturday - and they were all ill the subsequent day.

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

The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the situation.

The prosecutor said the children were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson contacted the police once more.

She explained the defendant then engaged in the "sweet game" in a space of five youngsters.