A person who laced candy with sedative and gave them to youngsters at a summer program in the area has confessed to sexual offences against two boys who were nine and ten years old.
The defendant was arrested after eight minors and one adult fell ill at the location in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
However, he disputed one particular crime he was accused of, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was held in detention ahead of a further hearing on November 28th.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, handling the case, described the defendant's actions to the court.
She explained his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a summer camp which he ran.
The defendant conducted a "sweet game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel explained, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and tell them to consume candy "rapidly".
She stated to the judge the defendant had played this game with the children "over an extended period", and children had previously fallen ill the next day.
She said the man had been capable of justifying this for many years as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his family member had concerns in summer 2025.
The prosecutor stated further: "This year his stepchild had worries about the activities, justifiably.
"They resolved" to examine in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor said objects including lubricant, petroleum jelly and syringes were discovered, and his stepchild alerted the police about his concerns.
She explained the defendant went on to engage in the "candy game" with six boys that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the following morning.
"Authorities" had not responded by that time," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the police conduct office, previously told that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
Mrs Prior said the children were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so the family member contacted the law enforcement a second time.
She stated the man then conducted the "sweet game" in a area of five minors.
