A man who contaminated sweets with sleeping medication and provided them to youngsters at a summer camp in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two boys who were nine and ten years old.
Jon Ruben was arrested after eight children and an older person fell ill at the location in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from that region, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he was present at the judicial center on the end of the week.
Nevertheless, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was held in detention prior to a subsequent court date on 28 November.
'Sweet game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, detailed Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She explained his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were staying at a summer camp which he managed.
The defendant engaged in a "candy game" with the children, Mrs Prior said, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings the man had conducted this practice with the children "for many years", and youngsters had previously become sick the subsequent day.
She stated the man had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his family member had suspicions in summer 2025.
The prosecutor added: "In the summer" his family member had suspicions about the activities, justifiably.
"They decided to examine in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC stated materials including infant oil, Vaseline and injection devices were found, and his stepson notified the law enforcement about his worries.
She said Ruben proceeded to conduct the "sweet game" with six boys that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the next day.
"The police had not responded by that time," she added.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, had stated that it was examining the police response of the incident.
The prosecutor explained the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so the family member contacted the police once more.
She explained the defendant then engaged in the "candy game" in a room of five children.
