Iain Wares, an 86-year-old former teacher, has been arrested in South Africa on 90 additional charges of historical sexual and physical abuse.
Wares, who taught at Edinburgh Academy and Fettes College in Scotland during the 1960s and 1970s, is accused of abusing over 60 former pupils, including BBC presenter Nicky Campbell.
The allegations span decades, with victims claiming that the schools failed to report complaints, allowing Wares to flee to South Africa in 1979, where he continued teaching until 2006.
Wares faces a total of 164 charges in Scotland and is also undergoing a separate trial in Cape Town for allegations made by a former student.
The South African High Court ruled in August 2023 that Wares could be extradited to Scotland on three charges, but the extradition process has been delayed due to the additional charges.
Wares has been granted bail, with a court hearing scheduled for November 20 to determine the next steps in the extradition process.
The case highlights the complexities of cross-border legal processes and the challenges of prosecuting historical abuse cases.
Many victims have expressed hope that Wares’ extradition will bring them closure and justice. Neil Douglas, a former pupil who accused Wares of abuse, said, “Finally someone is listening, finally someone is doing something about it”.
