A US mother who used to give parenting advice to more than two million subscribers on YouTube has pleaded guilty to child abuse after starving two of her children.

Ruby Franke, a mother of six from Utah, has admitted four counts of aggravated child abuse.

She was arrested in August after her emaciated 12-year-old knocked on a neighbour’s door, showing signs that he had been restrained.

Her YouTube channel, called 8 Passengers, had nearly 2.3 million subscribers and focused on parenting style and discipline.

Wearing grey and white prison clothing, Franke pleaded guilty to each of the first three charges individually in court today and on the fourth said: “With my deepest regret and sorrow for my family and my children, guilty.”

Judge John J. Walton accepted a plea agreement and scheduled sentencing for 20 February.

The agreement leaves the sentencing up to the judge and does not rule out prison time, Franke’s lawyer, LaMar Winward, acknowledged.

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Franke was arrested on 30 August when her 12-year-old son escaped from her business partner, Jodi Hildebrandt’s home, and asked a neighbour to call the police.

Franke’s lawyer said she was influenced by Hildebrandt, a relationship counsellor, who led her to “a distorted sense of morality”.

The boy was emaciated and had duct tape around his ankles and wrists when he escaped but wouldn’t say why, the 911 caller reported.

“I think he’s been… he’s been detained,” the caller said, his voice breaking up. “He’s obviously covered in wounds.”

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