A person who contaminated sweets with sleeping medication and distributed them to minors at a summer camp in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two boys both nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight children and an older person fell ill at Stathern Lodge in the summer month.
The elderly man, from that region, admitted guilt to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at the courthouse on the end of the week.
Yet, he denied a single sexual charge he was facing, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
The accused was kept in jail before a further hearing on late November.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, described the criminal behavior to the legal proceedings.
She stated his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a summer camp which he ran.
Ruben conducted a "sweet game" with the children, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to consume candy "rapidly".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had engaged in this activity with the boys "repeatedly", and minors had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She explained the defendant had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had worries in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC added: "In the summer" his family member had worries about the situation, justifiably.
"They resolved" to examine in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC explained materials including baby oil, Vaseline and injection devices were located, and his family member notified the police about his suspicions.
She explained the man continued to play the "treat game" with six youngsters that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"The police had not gone out by that stage," she continued.
The regulatory agency, the investigative body, had stated that it was reviewing the police response of the situation.
The prosecutor explained the minors were unable to walk properly due to their sickness, so the family member contacted the law enforcement once more.
She said Ruben then engaged in the "treat game" in a room of five youngsters.
