A person who contaminated candy with sedative and gave them to children at a youth camp in the region has confessed to sexual crimes against two children who were between nine and ten.
Jon Ruben was arrested after eight children and a grown-up fell ill at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he stood at the courthouse on Friday.
However, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was concerning a young boy.
The defendant was kept in jail ahead of a further hearing on late November.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, outlined the criminal behavior to the legal proceedings.
She explained his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a summer program which he operated.
Ruben played a "sweet game" with the youngsters, the prosecutor stated, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She stated to the judge the man had conducted this practice with the children "repeatedly", and minors had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She stated Ruben had been able to explain this over a long period as the youngsters being "overstimulated by activities", until his family member had worries in recently.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "This year his stepchild had worries about the situation, for good reason.
"They decided to have a look in the individual's items."
The prosecutor said objects including lubricant, petroleum jelly and syringes were discovered, and his stepchild notified the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She explained the defendant continued to conduct the "candy game" with six children that time - that Saturday - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that stage," she stated further.
The oversight body, the police conduct office, had stated that it was examining law enforcement's management of the incident.
Mrs Prior said the children were struggling to walk due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson notified the police once more.
She explained the defendant then engaged in the "candy game" in a area of five minors.
