A summer camp leader who drugged children with poisoned sweets before sexually assaulting them has admitted to also drugging his wife so she would not wake while the abuse took place.

Jon Ruben, a former vet, had previously admitted sexually assaulting two boys at a summer camp in Leicestershire, and child cruelty towards six other victims.

Ruben, who sobbed in the dock at Leicester Crown Court during his plea hearing on Wednesday, admitted administering a poison or noxious substance, Temazapam, to Susan Ruben between July 26 and 29 last year, so she would not wake up while he sexually assaulted the children.

The 76-year-old defendant, who ran a holiday camp for at least 27 years, said “I’m so sorry” after entering his guilty plea.

Ruben, who sat in the dock wearing a blue shirt and beige trousers, laced sweets with tranquillising drugs and attacked two children after playing “a sweet game” with the youngsters.

In November, he pleaded guilty to sexual assault of a child under 13, assault of a child under 13 by penetration, eight counts of child cruelty, three counts of making indecent images of children and four drugs charges.

Prosecutor Mary Prior KC told the court on Wednesday that Ruben had asked police for a voluntary interview when he admitted to drugging his wife.

Ruben, of Nottinghamshire, was arrested in July last year after eight children were taken to hospital and found to have taken liquid Xanax.

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Several of the youngsters became ill after playing the “sweet game”, with some finding it difficult to walk, having slurred speech and being unable to wake up, the court had heard at a previous hearing.

Children would often feel unwell the morning afterwards, but Ruben would tell them they were “overwrought”.

Ruben’s stepson raised concerns after finding baby oil, syringes with white powder and other items, the court heard in the previous hearing.

Ruben is due to be sentenced for the offences on Friday.

Leicester Crown Court Judge Timothy Spencer KC told Ruben his sentencing would be a “very tough day in your life”.