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A person who contaminated sweets with sedative and distributed them to youngsters at a youth camp in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two children who were nine and 10.

Jon Ruben was arrested after eight children and an older person became sick at the facility in the summer month.

The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, admitted guilt to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.

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

Ruben was remanded in custody prior to a further hearing on late November.

'Treat game'

The prosecutor, prosecuting, described Ruben's offending to the judicial body.

She stated his those affected were under-privileged children who were participating in a youth camp which he managed.

The man conducted a "sweet game" with the youngsters, the prosecutor said, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and request they to ingest treats "rapidly".

She told the court Ruben had engaged in this activity with the children "for many years", and children had previously fallen ill the next day.

She said Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had worries in recently.

Mrs Prior KC added: "Recently" his stepchild had concerns about the activities, for good reason.

"They resolved" to investigate in the man's possessions."

The legal counsel stated objects including lubricant, Vaseline and medical needles were located, and his family member contacted the police about his worries.

She explained Ruben continued to engage in the "sweet game" with six children that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the following morning.

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

The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was examining the police response of the incident.

The prosecutor stated the children were unable to walk properly due to their sickness, so the family member called the police a second time.

She said the man then played the "treat game" in a room of five youngsters.