A person who laced treats with tranquilliser and provided them to youngsters at a youth camp in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two young males both nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was arrested after eight youngsters and an older person fell ill at Stathern Lodge in July.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at the courthouse on Friday.
However, he disputed one particular crime he was charged with, which was concerning a young boy.
The defendant was held in detention prior to a further hearing on 28 November.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, outlined the criminal behavior to the judicial body.
She explained his victims were under-privileged children who were participating in a summer program which he managed.
The man played a "sweet game" with the youngsters, the prosecutor said, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and request they to ingest treats "rapidly".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had conducted this practice with the boys "repeatedly", and youngsters had previously become sick the following morning.
She said Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had suspicions in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "Recently" his stepchild had concerns about what was going on, justifiably.
"They chose" to have a look in the individual's items."
The legal counsel said materials including lubricant, ointment and syringes were located, and his family member contacted the law enforcement about his worries.
She said the defendant went on to conduct the "treat game" with six children that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that point," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was examining law enforcement's management of the situation.
The prosecutor explained the children were unable to walk properly due to their condition, so the stepson notified the authorities a second time.
She said the man then conducted the "candy game" in a area of five children.
