A person who laced sweets with sleeping medication and gave them to youngsters at a youth camp in the area has admitted sexual offenses against two children aged nine and ten years old.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight youngsters and a grown-up fell ill at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from that region, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he stood at the courthouse on the end of the week.
However, he denied one particular crime he was facing, which was involving a young boy.
The defendant was remanded in custody before a additional proceeding on late November.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, outlined the criminal behavior to the court.
She said his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a summer program which he managed.
The defendant engaged in a "sweet game" with the minors, the prosecutor stated, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were settling down and request they to ingest treats "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had conducted this practice with the boys "repeatedly", and minors had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She explained the man had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had concerns in recently.
The prosecutor added: "Recently" his stepson had concerns about what was going on, justifiably.
"They resolved" to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
The legal counsel said materials including lubricant, Vaseline and injection devices were found, and his family member alerted the authorities about his suspicions.
She explained the defendant went on to play the "candy game" with six youngsters that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the next day.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that time," she continued.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, previously told that it was reviewing the police response of the situation.
The prosecutor stated the children were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so the family member contacted the law enforcement once more.
She said Ruben then played the "treat game" in a area of five children.
