A person who contaminated treats with tranquilliser and gave them to children at a summer program in the region has confessed to sexual offences against two boys both nine and 10.
The accused was arrested after eight youngsters and a grown-up became sick at the facility in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from that region, admitted guilt to a multiple criminal counts when he was present at the courthouse on the end of the week.
Yet, he denied a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was against a nine-year-old child.
The defendant was kept in jail ahead of a further hearing on late November.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, handling the case, described the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She explained his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were staying at a summer program which he operated.
The man conducted a "sweet game" with the children, the legal counsel explained, in which he would enter the sleeping quarters when they were settling down and tell them to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".
She told the court the defendant had conducted this practice with the young males "repeatedly", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She explained the man had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his family member had concerns in recently.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "In the summer" his stepson had suspicions about the activities, with valid cause.
"They decided to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
Mrs Prior KC explained items including infant oil, Vaseline and medical needles were located, and his stepchild alerted the authorities about his suspicions.
She said the man went on to conduct the "candy game" with six youngsters that time - that Saturday - and they were all sick the next day.
"The police had not responded by that point," she added.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the events.
The legal representative said the minors were struggling to walk due to being ill, so the stepson contacted the authorities again.
She stated the defendant then played the "candy game" in a space of five minors.
