A man who laced candy with tranquilliser and provided them to youngsters at a youth camp in the area has confessed to sexual offenses against two young males both between nine and ten.
The accused was detained after eight youngsters and a grown-up fell ill at Stathern Lodge in July.
The senior citizen, from that region, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at the courthouse on the end of the week.
Yet, he denied one particular crime he was accused of, which was against a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was held in detention before a subsequent court date on 28 November.
'Sweet game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, described the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She said his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a summer camp which he ran.
Ruben conducted a "treat game" with the minors, Mrs Prior explained, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and request they to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had played this game with the boys "over an extended period", and minors had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She said the man had been able to explain this for many years as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had suspicions in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC continued: "Recently" his family member had concerns about the activities, for good reason.
"They decided to have a look in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor said items including lubricant, petroleum jelly and medical needles were located, and his stepson contacted the authorities about his worries.
She stated the man went on to engage in the "sweet game" with six children that time - that Saturday - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that time," she added.
The oversight body, the investigative body, earlier informed that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the events.
The legal representative explained the minors were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so the family member contacted the law enforcement a second time.
She stated Ruben then conducted the "treat game" in a area of five children.
