A man who spiked sweets with sleeping medication and distributed them to minors at a summer program in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two boys who were nine and 10.
The defendant was detained after eight children and an older person experienced illness at the facility in July.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he was present at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
Nevertheless, he denied one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was held in detention prior to a subsequent court date on late November.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, outlined the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She stated his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a summer program which he ran.
The man conducted a "candy game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior said, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and request they to ingest treats "rapidly".
She told the court the defendant had engaged in this activity with the young males "over an extended period", and youngsters had previously become sick the subsequent day.
She said the man had been able to explain this for many years as the minors being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had suspicions in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "Recently" his stepson had concerns about what was going on, justifiably.
"They resolved" to examine in the individual's items."
The prosecutor said objects including infant oil, petroleum jelly and medical needles were found, and his family member alerted the authorities about his worries.
She said the man continued to engage in the "sweet game" with six children that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the following morning.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that point," she continued.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
Mrs Prior explained the children were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson contacted the law enforcement again.
She explained the man then engaged in the "treat game" in a space of five children.
