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A man who contaminated sweets with sleeping medication and provided them to minors at a summer program in the region has confessed to sexual offenses against two young males who were nine and ten years old.

Jon Ruben was arrested after eight children and a grown-up experienced illness at the location in July.

The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he was present at the courthouse on Friday.

Nevertheless, he refused to admit one particular crime he was charged with, which was against a nine-year-old child.

Ruben was kept in jail ahead of a subsequent court date on November 28th.

'Sweet game'

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

She stated his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were staying at a summer program which he ran.

The defendant engaged in a "sweet game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel explained, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to consume candy "as quickly as they can".

She stated to the judge the defendant had engaged in this activity with the young males "over an extended period", and children had earlier experienced illness the following morning.

She explained the man had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his family member had worries in recently.

The legal representative stated further: "This year his stepchild had suspicions about what was going on, with valid cause.

"They chose" to examine in the defendant's belongings."

Mrs Prior KC stated objects including infant oil, Vaseline and medical needles were discovered, and his stepson notified the authorities about his worries.

She said Ruben continued to play the "treat game" with six youngsters that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the subsequent day.

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

The regulatory agency, the investigative body, earlier informed that it was examining law enforcement's management of the events.

The prosecutor explained the youngsters were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson notified the authorities a second time.

She stated the defendant then played the "treat game" in a area of five youngsters.