An individual who spiked candy with sedative and provided them to minors at a summer program in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two boys aged nine and 10.
The accused was taken into custody after eight children and an older person fell ill at the location in July.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
Nevertheless, he denied one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was remanded in custody before a subsequent court date on 28 November.
'Sweet game'
The legal representative, handling the case, detailed the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She said his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were staying at a youth camp which he managed.
The defendant played a "sweet game" with the children, the prosecutor said, in which he would access the sleeping quarters when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to ingest treats "as fast as possible".
She told the court the man had engaged in this activity with the children "repeatedly", and children had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She stated the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had suspicions in July 2025.
The legal representative stated further: "In the summer" his stepson had concerns about the activities, justifiably.
"They chose" to examine in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC said materials including lubricant, Vaseline and injection devices were located, and his stepson notified the authorities about his suspicions.
She said the defendant proceeded to engage in the "sweet game" with six children that time - that Saturday - and they were all sick the next day.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that point," she continued.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, previously told that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the events.
Mrs Prior explained the youngsters were unable to walk properly due to their sickness, so the stepson notified the authorities once more.
She said the man then played the "treat game" in a room of five youngsters.
