A person who spiked candy with sedative and distributed them to youngsters at a summer program in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual crimes against two children who were nine and 10.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight children and one adult experienced illness at the location in July.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he was present at the courthouse on Friday.
Yet, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was remanded in custody ahead of a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Sweet game'
The prosecutor, presenting evidence, described the criminal behavior to the court.
She explained his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a youth camp which he ran.
The man played a "sweet game" with the minors, the legal counsel explained, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and tell them to consume candy "rapidly".
She informed the proceedings the man had conducted this practice with the young males "for many years", and children had previously become sick the next day.
She explained the man had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had concerns in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC added: "Recently" his stepchild had worries about what was going on, with valid cause.
"They chose" to have a look in the individual's items."
The legal counsel explained items including infant oil, petroleum jelly and medical needles were located, and his stepchild notified the police about his suspicions.
She stated the defendant continued to engage in the "candy game" with six youngsters that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the following morning.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that point," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the investigative body, previously told that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
Mrs Prior stated the children were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson called the authorities once more.
She explained the defendant then played the "candy game" in a room of five youngsters.
