A man who spiked treats with tranquilliser and provided them to children at a youth camp in the area has admitted sexual offences against two boys aged between nine and ten.
The accused was taken into custody after eight youngsters and an older person became sick at the facility in the summer month.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at the courthouse on Friday.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was concerning a young boy.
The defendant was held in detention prior to a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, described the criminal behavior to the court.
She stated his victims were under-privileged children who were staying at a youth camp which he managed.
The defendant conducted a "treat game" with the children, the prosecutor said, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were settling down and request they to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She stated to the judge the defendant had played this game with the boys "over an extended period", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the next day.
She stated the defendant had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had suspicions in summer 2025.
The prosecutor added: "This year his stepchild had suspicions about the activities, justifiably.
"They decided to investigate in the individual's items."
The prosecutor stated materials including baby oil, ointment and injection devices were discovered, and his stepchild alerted the authorities about his worries.
She explained the man continued to engage in the "treat game" with six boys that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the next day.
"The police had not responded by that point," she continued.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was reviewing the police response of the situation.
The prosecutor explained the children were struggling to walk due to their condition, so the stepson called the authorities a second time.
She stated the defendant then conducted the "sweet game" in a area of five minors.
