A person who contaminated candy with sedative and distributed them to youngsters at a youth camp in the area has confessed to sexual offenses against two children aged nine and ten years old.
The accused was detained after eight children and one adult experienced illness at Stathern Lodge in July.
The senior citizen, from that region, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he stood at the judicial center on Friday.
Nevertheless, he denied a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was held in detention before a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, detailed the criminal behavior to the legal proceedings.
She said his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a summer camp which he managed.
The man conducted a "sweet game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior said, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and ask them to ingest treats "rapidly".
She stated to the judge the defendant had engaged in this activity with the young males "repeatedly", and minors had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She explained the defendant had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had concerns in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC added: "Recently" his stepson had worries about the activities, with valid cause.
"They decided to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor stated objects including baby oil, petroleum jelly and syringes were located, and his stepson contacted the authorities about his concerns.
She said Ruben continued to play the "treat game" with six youngsters that evening - that Saturday - and they were all sick the following morning.
"The police had not arrived by that time," she added.
The oversight body, the police conduct office, previously told that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the situation.
The legal representative stated the minors were struggling to walk due to their condition, so the stepson called the police once more.
She said Ruben then played the "treat game" in a room of five minors.
