An individual who contaminated treats with tranquilliser and provided them to youngsters at a youth camp in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual crimes against two young males aged between nine and ten.
The defendant was detained after eight youngsters and one adult became sick at the location in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from that region, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he stood at the courthouse on Friday.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit one particular crime he was accused of, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was kept in jail ahead of a further hearing on November 28th.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, handling the case, outlined the defendant's actions to the court.
She explained his those affected were under-privileged children who were attending a youth camp which he operated.
The defendant played a "candy game" with the minors, the prosecutor stated, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were settling down and request they to consume candy "rapidly".
She told the court the man had engaged in this activity with the boys "repeatedly", and minors had earlier experienced illness the following morning.
She stated the defendant had been able to explain this repeatedly as the minors being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had suspicions in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC continued: "In the summer" his stepson had concerns about the situation, justifiably.
"They chose" to examine in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC stated materials including baby oil, ointment and syringes were discovered, and his stepchild alerted the authorities about his suspicions.
She stated the defendant went on to engage in the "sweet game" with six boys that evening - July 26th - and they were all ill the following morning.
"The police had not arrived by that point," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was examining law enforcement's management of the events.
The legal representative stated the youngsters were unable to walk properly due to their sickness, so the family member called the law enforcement a second time.
She explained the man then conducted the "sweet game" in a room of five children.
