A person who spiked candy with tranquilliser and provided them to children at a summer program in the area has confessed to sexual offenses against two boys both nine and 10.
The accused was taken into custody after eight children and an older person became sick at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from that region, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at the judicial center on Friday.
Nevertheless, he denied a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was concerning a young boy.
The defendant was remanded in custody prior to a subsequent court date on late November.
'Sweet game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, described the criminal behavior to the court.
She said his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were participating in a summer camp which he managed.
The man played a "treat game" with the children, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were settling down and request they to ingest treats "rapidly".
She informed the proceedings the man had engaged in this activity with the young males "for many years", and children had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She explained the man had been able to explain this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had concerns in summer 2025.
The legal representative stated further: "This year his stepson had suspicions about the activities, with valid cause.
"They decided to investigate in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC explained objects including lubricant, ointment and injection devices were located, and his stepchild alerted the authorities about his worries.
She said the man continued to play the "treat game" with six youngsters that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"The police had not responded by that point," she added.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was reviewing the police response of the incident.
The legal representative said the children were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so the stepson called the authorities a second time.
She said the defendant then engaged in the "sweet game" in a room of five minors.
