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An individual who spiked candy with tranquilliser and distributed them to children at a summer camp in the area has confessed to sexual offences against two boys aged nine and 10.

Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight children and a grown-up fell ill at the facility in mid-summer.

The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at the judicial center on the end of the week.

However, he denied one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.

The accused was kept in jail prior to a further hearing on 28 November.

'Candy game'

Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, described Ruben's offending to the court.

She stated his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a summer program which he managed.

Ruben played a "candy game" with the youngsters, the prosecutor said, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and tell them to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".

She informed the proceedings Ruben had conducted this practice with the boys "over an extended period", and minors had earlier experienced illness the next day.

She explained Ruben had been capable of justifying this for many years as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had concerns in recently.

The prosecutor continued: "This year his stepchild had suspicions about the situation, for good reason.

"They chose" to examine in the individual's items."

The legal counsel said materials including baby oil, ointment and medical needles were discovered, and his family member notified the law enforcement about his worries.

She said Ruben went on to conduct the "treat game" with six boys that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the next day.

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

The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was examining the police response of the situation.

The legal representative said the minors were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so the stepson notified the police a second time.

She said the man then played the "sweet game" in a space of five minors.