A person who spiked treats with sedative and provided them to youngsters at a summer program in the area has confessed to sexual crimes against two boys both between nine and ten.
The accused was taken into custody after eight youngsters and an older person fell ill at the location in July.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he was present at the courthouse on recently.
Yet, he denied one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was kept in jail before a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, handling the case, detailed the defendant's actions to the court.
She stated his targets were under-privileged children who were participating in a summer program which he ran.
The defendant played a "candy game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel explained, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She told the court the man had played this game with the children "for many years", and minors had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She said the man had been able to explain this over a long period as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had worries in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "Recently" his stepchild had concerns about what was going on, with valid cause.
"They resolved" to examine in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel stated objects including lubricant, petroleum jelly and medical needles were discovered, and his stepchild notified the authorities about his suspicions.
She stated the defendant went on to engage in the "sweet game" with six children that evening - July 26th - and they were all ill the next day.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that time," she stated further.
The oversight body, the police conduct office, previously told that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
The prosecutor stated the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so the family member contacted the authorities a second time.
She explained the man then engaged in the "sweet game" in a area of five children.
