An individual who contaminated sweets with tranquilliser and provided them to children at a summer program in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two boys both nine and ten years old.
The defendant was arrested after eight children and a grown-up fell ill at the facility in July.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at the courthouse on Friday.
Yet, he denied one particular crime he was charged with, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
The defendant was kept in jail before a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, detailed the criminal behavior to the court.
She explained his those affected were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a youth camp which he ran.
The man conducted a "candy game" with the minors, the legal counsel said, in which he would access the sleeping quarters when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She stated to the judge the defendant had engaged in this activity with the young males "repeatedly", and minors had earlier experienced illness the following morning.
She explained the defendant had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had concerns in summer 2025.
The legal representative added: "In the summer" his family member had concerns about the activities, for good reason.
"They chose" to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
Mrs Prior KC said objects including lubricant, petroleum jelly and medical needles were discovered, and his family member alerted the police about his worries.
She said the defendant went on to engage in the "treat game" with six boys that time - that Saturday - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that stage," she continued.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
The legal representative stated the minors were struggling to walk due to their condition, so the stepson contacted the law enforcement again.
She stated the man then conducted the "candy game" in a area of five minors.
