An individual who laced sweets with sedative and provided them to minors at a summer camp in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two boys aged between nine and ten.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight youngsters and an older person experienced illness at Stathern Lodge in July.
The senior citizen, from that region, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he was present at the judicial center on Friday.
However, he refused to admit one particular crime he was accused of, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was remanded in custody before a subsequent court date on late November.
'Sweet game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, detailed the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She said his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were participating in a youth camp which he ran.
Ruben played a "sweet game" with the children, the prosecutor stated, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and tell them to eat sweets "rapidly".
She stated to the judge Ruben had played this game with the children "over an extended period", and minors had previously become sick the next day.
She explained the man had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had suspicions in July 2025.
The legal representative continued: "In the summer" his stepson had worries about the situation, justifiably.
"They decided to examine in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC stated items including lubricant, Vaseline and syringes were found, and his stepchild contacted the police about his worries.
She said the man continued to play the "sweet game" with six youngsters that time - July 26th - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"The police had not responded by that stage," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, earlier informed that it was examining law enforcement's management of the incident.
Mrs Prior said the minors were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so the family member contacted the law enforcement again.
She explained the defendant then conducted the "candy game" in a space of five children.
