Teacher accused of abusing boys at Edinburgh Academy and Fettes College fighting extradition to Scotland

A retired teacher accused of abusing dozens of boys at two Edinburgh schools is fighting extradition from South Africa to Scotland.

Iain Wares, 84, faces more than 80 charges of historic abuse relating to more than 40 victims aged as young as nine. He also faces separate charges of sexual misconduct in Cape Town.

A South African court approved a UK extradition request in 2020 but the process has been delayed by an appeal against the decision.

Wares will appear at the Western Cape High Court in Cape Town on Friday, October 27.

Wares, who was previously only known as Edgar, had been classed as a “protected person” after claims that he abused children in the 1960s and 1970s at Fettes College and Edinburgh Academy came to light.

Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry has investigated cases at schools including Fettes College PA Media

Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry chair Lady Smith ruled the true identity of the alleged perpetrator could be revealed after a legal challenge in March.

Broadcaster Nicky Campbell, who previously alleged he was abused by Wares when he attended Edinburgh Academy, is among those who have called for him to be extradited to Scotland.

The former maths teacher and rugby coach left the school in 1973 after serious complaints were lodged against him.

He moved to Fettes College to teach for six years before moving back to South Africa, where he taught for a further 27 years.

Women and Men Against Child Abuse Head of Advocacy Luke Lamprecht said: “This appeal adds substantial time to the completion of the legal processes, delaying justice even further for the victims seeking closure in the later years of their adult lives.”