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An individual who spiked sweets with sleeping medication and gave them to minors at a summer camp in the area has admitted sexual crimes against two children both nine and 10.

The defendant was taken into custody after eight children and one adult experienced illness at Stathern Lodge in July.

The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, admitted guilt to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at the courthouse on Friday.

Nevertheless, he refused to admit one particular crime he was facing, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.

Ruben was remanded in custody prior to a additional proceeding on November 28th.

'Candy game'

The legal representative, handling the case, described Ruben's offending to the judicial body.

She said his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were participating in a summer camp which he ran.

The defendant played a "sweet game" with the children, the legal counsel said, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were preparing to sleep and request they to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".

She told the court the defendant had engaged in this activity with the children "over an extended period", and children had earlier experienced illness the following morning.

She said the man had been able to explain this over a long period as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had suspicions in recently.

The prosecutor added: "In the summer" his stepchild had worries about the situation, with valid cause.

"They decided to have a look in the defendant's belongings."

The legal counsel explained materials including infant oil, ointment and medical needles were discovered, and his stepson alerted the law enforcement about his worries.

She stated the man continued to engage in the "sweet game" with six boys that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the following morning.

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

The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was investigating the police response of the incident.

Mrs Prior stated the youngsters were struggling to walk due to being ill, so the family member contacted the police again.

She stated the man then engaged in the "sweet game" in a room of five children.