A man who spiked treats with sedative and provided them to youngsters at a youth camp in Leicestershire has admitted sexual offences against two children both nine and ten years old.
The defendant was detained after eight youngsters and one adult became sick at the facility in the summer month.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he stood at the courthouse on Friday.
Yet, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was against a young boy.
The defendant was kept in jail before a subsequent court date on 28 November.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, described the defendant's actions to the court.
She stated his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a summer camp which he operated.
The man engaged in a "treat game" with the youngsters, the prosecutor said, in which he would enter the sleeping quarters when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to eat sweets "rapidly".
She told the court the defendant had conducted this practice with the young males "repeatedly", and minors had earlier experienced illness the following morning.
She said the man had been capable of justifying this for many years as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had suspicions in summer 2025.
The prosecutor stated further: "This year his stepchild had worries about the situation, with valid cause.
"They chose" to examine in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor explained items including baby oil, ointment and medical needles were discovered, and his family member notified the authorities about his concerns.
She explained the defendant went on to engage in the "candy game" with six youngsters that time - that Saturday - and they were everyone unwell the next day.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that point," she continued.
The regulatory agency, the police conduct office, previously told that it was examining the police response of the incident.
The prosecutor explained the youngsters were unable to walk properly due to their condition, so the stepson contacted the authorities a second time.
She said the man then conducted the "treat game" in a area of five youngsters.
