A man who laced treats with tranquilliser and provided them to children at a summer program in the region has confessed to sexual offences against two boys aged between nine and ten.
The accused was taken into custody after eight youngsters and an older person became sick at Stathern Lodge in July.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at the courthouse on recently.
However, he disputed one particular crime he was charged with, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was remanded in custody before a further hearing on November 28th.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, detailed the criminal behavior to the legal proceedings.
She said his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a summer program which he ran.
The defendant engaged in a "sweet game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel said, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and request they to ingest treats "rapidly".
She stated to the judge the defendant had conducted this practice with the children "for many years", and children had earlier experienced illness the following morning.
She explained the defendant had been able to explain this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had concerns in summer 2025.
The legal representative stated further: "This year his stepchild had worries about the situation, justifiably.
"They chose" to investigate in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor stated objects including infant oil, petroleum jelly and injection devices were located, and his family member contacted the law enforcement about his concerns.
She stated the man went on to play the "treat game" with six boys that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not responded by that stage," she continued.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, had stated that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
Mrs Prior stated the children were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so the family member notified the authorities a second time.
She explained the man then conducted the "treat game" in a room of five children.
