An individual who laced treats with sleeping medication and provided them to children at a youth camp in the region has confessed to sexual offences against two children aged nine and ten years old.
The defendant was arrested after eight children and a grown-up became sick at the facility in July.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, admitted guilt to a total of 17 charges when he stood at the courthouse on Friday.
However, he denied a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was remanded in custody ahead of a additional proceeding on late November.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, handling the case, outlined the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She explained his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a youth camp which he ran.
The defendant conducted a "treat game" with the children, the legal counsel stated, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and ask 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 youngsters had previously become sick the next day.
She explained the man had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had suspicions in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "Recently" his family member had concerns about the activities, for good reason.
"They chose" to investigate in the defendant's belongings."
Mrs Prior KC said items including lubricant, ointment and medical needles were discovered, and his stepson alerted the law enforcement about his worries.
She said the man proceeded to play the "treat game" with six children that evening - July 26th - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"The police had not arrived by that stage," she added.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was investigating the police response of the events.
Mrs Prior said the youngsters were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so the family member contacted the law enforcement again.
She explained the defendant then played the "candy game" in a space of five youngsters.
