A man who laced sweets with sleeping medication and provided them to youngsters at a summer camp in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two boys who were nine and 10.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight youngsters and a grown-up fell ill at the location in July.
The elderly man, from that region, admitted guilt to a series of 17 offences when he was present at the courthouse on the end of the week.
However, he denied one particular crime he was accused of, which was involving a young boy.
The accused was held in detention before a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, outlined the defendant's actions to the court.
She said his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a youth camp which he managed.
The defendant conducted a "treat game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior said, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to ingest treats "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had conducted this practice with the boys "repeatedly", and minors had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She explained the man had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had worries in summer 2025.
The prosecutor continued: "In the summer" his stepson had concerns about what was going on, for good reason.
"They chose" to investigate in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel stated objects including lubricant, ointment and medical needles were discovered, and his stepchild alerted the police about his suspicions.
She stated the man continued to conduct the "treat game" with six boys that night - that Saturday - and they were everyone unwell the next day.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that point," she continued.
The oversight body, the police conduct office, had stated that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the incident.
The prosecutor stated the children were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so the stepson notified the law enforcement once more.
She stated the defendant then conducted the "sweet game" in a room of five children.
