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A person who spiked candy with tranquilliser and gave them to youngsters at a youth camp in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two young males who were between nine and ten.

The accused was taken into custody after eight children and a grown-up experienced illness at Stathern Lodge in July.

The 76-year-old, from that region, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at the courthouse on the end of the week.

Nevertheless, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was against a nine-year-old boy.

The defendant was remanded in custody before a subsequent court date on November 28th.

'Treat game'

The legal representative, handling the case, detailed the defendant's actions to the judicial body.

She explained his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a youth camp which he ran.

Ruben engaged in a "sweet game" with the children, Mrs Prior said, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were settling down and request they to consume candy "as fast as possible".

She stated to the judge the defendant had conducted this practice with the young males "over an extended period", and minors had previously become sick the next day.

She stated Ruben had been capable of justifying this for many years as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had worries in recently.

The legal representative stated further: "Recently" his family member had worries about the situation, for good reason.

"They chose" to investigate in the man's possessions."

Mrs Prior KC said objects including baby oil, Vaseline and medical needles were located, and his stepchild alerted the law enforcement about his concerns.

She said the defendant proceeded to engage in the "candy game" with six children that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the subsequent day.

"The police had not arrived by that time," she continued.

The regulatory agency, the police conduct office, had stated that it was examining law enforcement's management of the incident.

The prosecutor explained the youngsters were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so the stepson notified the police a second time.

She said the defendant then conducted the "sweet game" in a area of five children.