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An individual who contaminated sweets with tranquilliser and gave them to minors at a youth camp in the region has confessed to sexual offences against two children who were nine and ten years old.

The accused was taken into custody after eight youngsters and an older person fell ill at Stathern Lodge in the summer month.

The senior citizen, from that region, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he was present at the judicial center on Friday.

However, he denied one particular crime he was facing, which was against a nine-year-old child.

Ruben was kept in jail prior to a further hearing on 28 November.

'Treat game'

Mary Prior KC, handling the case, outlined the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.

She explained his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a summer camp which he ran.

The man played a "treat game" with the youngsters, the prosecutor explained, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to eat sweets "as fast as possible".

She stated to the judge the man had conducted this practice with the children "for many years", and minors had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.

She explained Ruben had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had suspicions in summer 2025.

The legal representative added: "Recently" his stepson had worries about the situation, justifiably.

"They chose" to investigate in the defendant's belongings."

Mrs Prior KC explained objects including infant oil, petroleum jelly and syringes were discovered, and his stepchild contacted the police about his suspicions.

She explained Ruben went on to engage in the "sweet game" with six children that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the subsequent day.

"The police had not gone out by that point," she continued.

The regulatory agency, the police conduct office, had stated that it was examining the police response of the situation.

Mrs Prior explained the minors were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so the family member called the police a second time.

She said the defendant then engaged in the "candy game" in a space of five minors.