One child was in a pool, another was playing computer games, and one young boy was in a car.
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It was in these seemingly fun and innocent situations that the former boss of Bega Cheese, Maurice Van Ryn, committed "deliberate and calculated breaches of trust" and sexually abused children.
The 59-year-old occasionally gave his victims sweets, gifts and alcohol before molesting them in acts ranging from touching and kissing, to sexual assault of boys and girls aged eight to 16.
"It was predatory behaviour," Crown prosecutor Michael Fox told the Downing Centre District Court in Sydney during a sentencing hearing on Tuesday.
"He acknowledges [the victims] were a tender age and a significant stage in their development."
Van Ryn, the chief executive of the cheese company for 14 years has pleaded guilty to the abuse of 10 boys and girls between 2006 and 2014.
Mr Fox told the court that Van Ryn had been "arrogant and dismissive" when he described his offences as "minutes of stupidity" while giving evidence at an earlier hearing.
"In reality, it can mean a lifetime of grief for these victims," Mr Fox said.
"He clearly knew his actions were criminal and wrong. He's not a feeble-minded man; he's someone who has been in the highest levels of business."
He said Van Ryn had options to deal with his paedophillic disorder but he acted on his sexual attraction to children.
Defence barrister Stephen Odgers, SC, said Van Ryn had expressed frustration that it was not until after his crimes that he found out about treatment to lower his testosterone levels.
Van Ryn had fewer urges and fantasies on the hormone treatment, meaning he presented a lower risk of reoffending, Mr Odgers said.
He said one of many factors that explained Van Ryn's offending was decreased sexual activity with his wife.
"I'm not mitigating but it's part of the matrix of why the offending may have occurred."
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has made a "freezing order" against Van Ryn, prohibiting him from selling or in any way disposing of or diminishing the value of his assets.
The order, made by Justice Peter Garling on April 10, covers assets in Australia and overseas.
In particular, Van Ryn is not allowed to dispose of or deal with a property near Bega, his superannuation distributions, and shares and securities in four companies.
The companies are Medical Developments International Ltd, Navigator Australia Ltd, Probiotec Ltd and Bowral Investments.
He was also ordered to record all his assets worldwide, giving value, location and details such as mortgages.
He is allowed to spend $500 a week on living expenses and $25,000 on legal expenses.
The freezing order was made after a plaintiff, whose identity cannot be published for legal reasons, applied to the court.
Such an order is usually made to prevent a potential defendant ridding themselves of their assets before they are sued.
That matter will return to court before Justice Garling on Thursday.
