A person who laced candy with sleeping medication and gave them to minors at a summer program in the area has confessed to sexual offenses against two children aged nine and ten years old.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight children and an older person became sick at Stathern Lodge in July.
The senior citizen, from that region, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he stood at the judicial center on recently.
Yet, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was concerning a young boy.
The defendant was held in detention before a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, described Ruben's offending to the court.
She said his those affected were disadvantaged youngsters who were staying at a summer camp which he managed.
Ruben conducted a "treat game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel stated, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had engaged in this activity with the young males "repeatedly", and children had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She explained the man had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had worries in July 2025.
The legal representative continued: "In the summer" his stepson had suspicions about what was going on, with valid cause.
"They chose" to investigate in the individual's items."
The prosecutor said objects including lubricant, petroleum jelly and syringes were discovered, and his stepchild notified the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She stated Ruben continued to engage in the "candy game" with six boys that time - July 26th - and they were all sick the following morning.
"The police had not gone out by that stage," she added.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, had stated that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the events.
The legal representative explained the children were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so the family member notified the authorities once more.
She said the man then engaged in the "candy game" in a space of five minors.
