The children trusted him, called him “Uncle Paul” and gladly sipped the lemonade he made for them.

But that sweet concoction was spiked with a drug so the children would fall into a “stupefied” sleep as the 36-year-old babysitter sexually abused them, a Barrie court heard today.

Paul DeVries of Warminster, a hamlet in Oro-Medonte, has pleaded guilty to administering a noxious substance, sexual interference and making child pornography.

DeVries’ five sexual assault victims were between the ages of seven and 12, court was told.

During his sentencing hearing, court heard DeVries violated five children while he babysat them for friends at his home, where he lived with his father.

Crown attorney Gary Barker said Devries was trusted because he was a life-long friend of a mother of some of the children.

“This is a breach of trust. She considered the accused to be part of the family. They went to public school together in Orillia,” Barker said. “He did all this while the children were at his home asleep, making them helpless and defenceless and to avoid detection.”

The Crown is asking for a sentence of five to eight years including 23 months of pretrial custody. The defence is suggesting a sentence of two years less a day, with special credit for pre-trial custody.

On one occasion Devries used his cellphone to photograph a close up of a young girl’s face following a sexual assault, court heard.

“Who knows where else that photo went? If it was ever emailed to others?” Barker said.