A person who contaminated candy with sleeping medication and distributed them to children at a summer program in Leicestershire has admitted sexual crimes against two children aged between nine and ten.
The accused was taken into custody after eight youngsters and one adult fell ill at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, admitted guilt to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
However, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was against a nine-year-old child.
The accused was held in detention ahead of a further hearing on 28 November.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, detailed the criminal behavior to the legal proceedings.
She said his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a summer camp which he operated.
The defendant played a "candy game" with the children, the prosecutor said, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were settling down and ask them to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings the man had played this game with the young males "for many years", and children had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She said the man had been able to explain this for many years as the minors being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had worries in July 2025.
The legal representative added: "This year his family member had concerns about the activities, for good reason.
"They chose" to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor explained objects including lubricant, ointment and syringes were discovered, and his stepson notified the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She said the man proceeded to play the "treat game" with six boys that night - that Saturday - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not responded by that time," she added.
The oversight body, the police conduct office, previously told that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the events.
The prosecutor explained the children were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so the stepson called the police once more.
She said the man then conducted the "sweet game" in a room of five youngsters.
