An individual who spiked sweets with sedative and provided them to children at a summer program in the region has confessed to sexual offenses against two young males who were nine and 10.
The accused was taken into custody after eight children and a grown-up fell ill at Stathern Lodge in July.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at the courthouse on the end of the week.
Nevertheless, he denied one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was against a young boy.
The defendant was held in detention before a further hearing on 28 November.
'Candy game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, described the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She said his those affected were under-privileged children who were staying at a summer program which he managed.
The defendant played a "sweet game" with the children, the prosecutor explained, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were preparing to sleep and request they to ingest treats "rapidly".
She stated to the judge the man had engaged in this activity with the children "over an extended period", and children had previously become sick the subsequent day.
She stated the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had suspicions in recently.
The prosecutor continued: "Recently" his stepson had concerns about what was going on, justifiably.
"They resolved" to examine in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor said items including baby oil, petroleum jelly and syringes were found, and his stepchild notified the police about his concerns.
She said the man proceeded to engage in the "candy game" with six boys that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the following morning.
"The police had not arrived by that time," she continued.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was reviewing the police response of the incident.
The legal representative explained the children were unable to walk properly due to their sickness, so the stepson notified the police a second time.
She said the man then played the "candy game" in a space of five youngsters.
