A man who contaminated sweets with sedative and distributed them to children at a youth camp in Leicestershire has admitted sexual offenses against two boys aged nine and ten years old.
The defendant was detained after eight youngsters and an older person experienced illness at the location in July.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he stood at the judicial center on the end of the week.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit one particular crime he was accused of, which was against a young boy.
The defendant was held in detention before a additional proceeding on late November.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, outlined the defendant's actions to the court.
She said his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were staying at a summer camp which he operated.
The defendant conducted a "treat game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior said, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and request they to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She told the court the defendant had engaged in this activity with the young males "repeatedly", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the following morning.
She said the man had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had suspicions in July 2025.
The legal representative continued: "Recently" his stepson had concerns about the activities, justifiably.
"They chose" to have a look in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC said materials including baby oil, ointment and medical needles were located, and his family member notified the authorities about his worries.
She stated the man continued to engage in the "sweet game" with six youngsters that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the following morning.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that time," she added.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was examining the police response of the events.
The prosecutor stated the minors were unable to walk properly due to their condition, so the stepson called the police once more.
She explained Ruben then conducted the "treat game" in a space of five children.
