A man who spiked sweets with tranquilliser and gave them to minors at a summer program in the area has admitted sexual crimes against two young males who were between nine and ten.
Jon Ruben was taken into custody after eight youngsters and a grown-up fell ill at Stathern Lodge in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from that region, admitted guilt to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at the courthouse on recently.
Nevertheless, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was kept in jail ahead of a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, described the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She stated his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a summer camp which he ran.
The man conducted a "treat game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior said, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were settling down and request they to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".
She told the court the man had engaged in this activity with the boys "over an extended period", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the following morning.
She explained the defendant had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had concerns in July 2025.
The prosecutor continued: "In the summer" his stepchild had suspicions about what was going on, justifiably.
"They decided to have a look in the individual's items."
The legal counsel said materials including infant oil, petroleum jelly and medical needles were discovered, and his stepson notified the police about his worries.
She explained the man went on to conduct the "sweet game" with six children that night - that Saturday - and they were all sick the next day.
"The police had not gone out by that point," she stated further.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was examining the police response of the situation.
The legal representative explained the minors were unable to walk properly due to their sickness, so the family member notified the police a second time.
She explained Ruben then played the "sweet game" in a space of five youngsters.
