🔗 Share this article

A man who spiked sweets with sleeping medication and provided them to children at a youth camp in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two children who were nine and ten years old.

The accused was detained after eight youngsters and a grown-up became sick at the facility in the summer month.

The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.

However, he disputed one particular crime he was accused of, which was involving a young boy.

The accused was held in detention before a additional proceeding on late November.

'Treat game'

The prosecutor, handling the case, outlined the criminal behavior to the court.

She explained his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a youth camp which he ran.

The man played a "sweet game" with the children, the legal counsel said, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were settling down and request they to eat sweets "rapidly".

She informed the proceedings the defendant had played this game with the children "for many years", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.

She said the defendant had been able to explain this repeatedly as the minors being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had worries in July 2025.

The legal representative added: "Recently" his family member had concerns about what was going on, justifiably.

"They resolved" to investigate in the defendant's belongings."

The prosecutor explained objects including baby oil, Vaseline and syringes were discovered, and his stepson notified the authorities about his suspicions.

She explained the defendant proceeded to conduct the "treat game" with six youngsters that evening - July 26th - and they were all ill the next day.

"The police had not gone out by that point," she continued.

The police watchdog, the investigative body, previously told that it was examining the police response of the events.

The prosecutor stated the children were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so the family member notified the police again.

She said the man then played the "candy game" in a space of five youngsters.