A person who laced sweets with sleeping medication and gave them to children at a summer camp in the region has confessed to sexual offences against two children who were between nine and ten.
Jon Ruben was detained after eight youngsters and a grown-up became sick at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at the courthouse on recently.
However, he disputed one particular crime he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was kept in jail before a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, described the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She stated his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a summer camp which he ran.
The man played a "treat game" with the children, Mrs Prior said, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She told the court the defendant had engaged in this activity with the young males "over an extended period", and minors had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She explained the defendant had been able to explain this repeatedly as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his family member had worries in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC continued: "Recently" his family member had suspicions about the activities, with valid cause.
"They resolved" to investigate in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor stated materials including lubricant, Vaseline and medical needles were found, and his stepson alerted the police about his suspicions.
She said the defendant went on to engage in the "sweet game" with six boys that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not gone out by that time," she added.
The regulatory agency, the investigative body, previously told that it was examining law enforcement's management of the incident.
Mrs Prior explained the children were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so the stepson contacted the police again.
She explained the man then conducted the "treat game" in a space of five children.
