She 'confessed to' a love of trashy romance novels. [=she admitted that she loves trashy romance novels]
I must 'confess' [=I am a little embarrassed to say] that I know nothing about computers.
She 'confessed to' having lied to me in the past. [=she told me that she lied to me]
(..) Inspector Clouseau of the Sureté, and it is my painful duty to arrest you. Do you know my husband? Yes, I must confess I do. I met him several years ago. When I meet him again I shall arrest him immediately. Then you must've met Colonel Sharki? Oh, that idiot from the Lugash Secret (..)1975 The Return of the Pink Panther