An individual who laced candy with sleeping medication and provided them to children at a youth camp in the region has confessed to sexual offenses against two young males who were nine and 10.
Jon Ruben was detained after eight children and an older person became sick at the location in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, admitted guilt to a series of 17 offences when he stood at the courthouse on Friday.
Yet, he disputed one particular crime he was facing, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was held in detention before a further hearing on 28 November.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, outlined the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She explained his targets were under-privileged children who were attending a youth camp which he ran.
Ruben played a "treat game" with the minors, the prosecutor explained, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and request they to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She told the court the man had conducted this practice with the boys "for many years", and children had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She said Ruben had been able to explain this for many years as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had suspicions in recently.
The prosecutor continued: "Recently" his family member had worries about what was going on, justifiably.
"They decided to investigate in the individual's items."
The prosecutor explained items including baby oil, Vaseline and injection devices were found, and his stepson alerted the authorities about his suspicions.
She stated the defendant proceeded to play the "candy game" with six children that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that point," she added.
The regulatory agency, the police conduct office, earlier informed that it was examining law enforcement's management of the events.
The legal representative stated the youngsters were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so the stepson notified the law enforcement a second time.
She said the man then played the "sweet game" in a area of five children.
