An individual who laced treats with tranquilliser and provided them to youngsters at a youth camp in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two young males who were nine and 10.
Jon Ruben was detained after eight children and a grown-up became sick at Stathern Lodge in July.
The senior citizen, from that region, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he stood at the judicial center on Friday.
However, he refused to admit one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was involving a young boy.
The accused was kept in jail before a additional proceeding on late November.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, outlined the defendant's actions to the court.
She said his targets were under-privileged children who were staying at a summer camp which he ran.
The man conducted a "treat game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were settling down and ask them to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She stated to the judge the man had conducted this practice with the children "repeatedly", and youngsters had previously become sick the subsequent day.
She stated the man had been able to explain this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had suspicions in recently.
The legal representative stated further: "Recently" his stepchild had concerns about what was going on, for good reason.
"They decided to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
Mrs Prior KC said materials including lubricant, Vaseline and injection devices were located, and his stepson contacted the authorities about his suspicions.
She explained the man proceeded to play the "candy game" with six children that evening - that Saturday - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"The police had not responded by that stage," she continued.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was reviewing the police response of the situation.
The prosecutor stated the children were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson contacted the police once more.
She said the defendant then conducted the "candy game" in a space of five youngsters.
