A person who contaminated candy with tranquilliser and gave them to youngsters at a summer camp in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two boys both nine and 10.
Jon Ruben was detained after eight children and one adult experienced illness at Stathern Lodge in July.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at the courthouse on Friday.
However, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
The accused was remanded in custody ahead of a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Sweet game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, detailed the criminal behavior to the legal proceedings.
She stated his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a youth camp which he operated.
The defendant conducted a "candy game" with the children, the prosecutor said, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She told the court Ruben had engaged in this activity with the boys "over an extended period", and children had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She explained Ruben had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had worries in recently.
The legal representative stated further: "This year his stepson had suspicions about the situation, with valid cause.
"They decided to investigate in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC explained materials including baby oil, Vaseline and medical needles were discovered, and his stepchild alerted the authorities about his concerns.
She stated the defendant proceeded to play the "treat game" with six youngsters that evening - that Saturday - and they were all ill the following morning.
"The police had not responded by that point," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the police conduct office, had stated that it was examining the police response of the situation.
Mrs Prior stated the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so the family member called the law enforcement again.
She stated Ruben then engaged in the "sweet game" in a area of five youngsters.
