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A person who laced treats with sedative and distributed them to youngsters at a summer program in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two boys aged between nine and ten.

The defendant was taken into custody after eight children and an older person fell ill at the location in the summer month.

The senior citizen, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, admitted guilt to a total of 17 charges when he stood at the judicial center on recently.

Nevertheless, he denied one particular crime he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old child.

The accused was remanded in custody before a additional proceeding on 28 November.

'Sweet game'

The prosecutor, prosecuting, detailed the defendant's actions to the court.

She explained his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were staying at a summer program which he managed.

The defendant engaged in a "treat game" with the minors, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were settling down and tell them to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".

She informed the proceedings the man had played this game with the boys "over an extended period", and children had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.

She said the defendant had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the minors being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had suspicions in July 2025.

Mrs Prior KC added: "Recently" his stepson had suspicions about the situation, for good reason.

"They chose" to have a look in the defendant's belongings."

The legal counsel said materials including lubricant, petroleum jelly and syringes were found, and his stepchild alerted the authorities about his worries.

She stated the man continued to engage in the "treat game" with six youngsters that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the next day.

"Authorities" had not responded by that time," she continued.

The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was reviewing Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.

Mrs Prior said the minors were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so the family member notified the police a second time.

She explained the man then played the "sweet game" in a area of five youngsters.