A man who contaminated candy with sleeping medication and gave them to minors at a summer camp in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two young males aged nine and ten years old.
The defendant was detained after eight children and a grown-up became sick at Stathern Lodge in the summer month.
The elderly man, from that region, admitted guilt to a multiple criminal counts when he was present at the courthouse on Friday.
However, he denied one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
The defendant was kept in jail before a additional proceeding on late November.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, described the criminal behavior to the judicial body.
She stated his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were participating in a youth camp which he ran.
The man engaged in a "sweet game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel explained, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She told the court the defendant had engaged in this activity with the young males "for many years", and children had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She said the defendant had been able to explain this for many years as the minors being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had concerns in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC continued: "This year his stepson had concerns about the activities, justifiably.
"They chose" to examine in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor said items including baby oil, petroleum jelly and injection devices were located, and his family member alerted the police about his concerns.
She explained Ruben proceeded to play the "treat game" with six youngsters that night - that Saturday - and they were all ill the next day.
"The police had not gone out by that point," she stated further.
The oversight body, the police conduct office, had stated that it was examining the police response of the events.
Mrs Prior explained the children were struggling to walk due to being ill, so the stepson notified the police a second time.
She explained the man then conducted the "sweet game" in a area of five youngsters.
