A man who laced candy with sedative and provided them to youngsters at a summer camp in the region has confessed to sexual offences against two young males aged nine and ten years old.
The accused was detained after eight youngsters and a grown-up experienced illness at the location in July.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
Nevertheless, he denied a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
The defendant was kept in jail ahead of a further hearing on 28 November.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, detailed the criminal behavior to the court.
She said his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a summer camp which he operated.
The defendant played a "candy game" with the youngsters, the prosecutor explained, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and ask them to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She told the court the defendant had conducted this practice with the boys "for many years", and minors had previously fallen ill the next day.
She explained the man had been able to explain this for many years as the youngsters being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his family member had suspicions in summer 2025.
The legal representative added: "This year his stepson had concerns about the activities, justifiably.
"They decided to investigate in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC said items including lubricant, petroleum jelly and syringes were found, and his stepchild alerted the police about his worries.
She said the defendant continued to engage in the "treat game" with six boys that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the next day.
"Authorities" had not gone out by that time," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, previously told that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
The prosecutor explained the minors were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so the stepson contacted the authorities once more.
She said the man then engaged in the "candy game" in a area of five minors.
