A former teacher accused of widespread historical sexual abuse in Scotland has been convicted of indecently assaulting a pupil in South Africa.
Iain Wares, 86, was found guilty by a Cape Town court over the assault of a student in 1988, marking the first conviction against him despite decades of allegations spanning multiple countries.
Wares, who previously taught at Edinburgh Academy and Fettes College in the 1960s and 1970s, has been accused by dozens of former pupils of sexual abuse.
The court ruled that the victim—identified as “Stephen” to protect his identity—was a credible witness, with prosecutors proving the case beyond reasonable doubt.
Speaking after the verdict, Stephen said he was “very happy” following a 35-year wait for justice, but noted that many other alleged victims were still awaiting accountability.
“I’m just one person who was abused… there are many others who suffered,” he said.
South African advocacy group Women and Men Against Child Abuse, which supported the case, said it hoped the sentencing would reflect the seriousness of the crimes and called for further proceedings in Scotland.
Wares is due to be sentenced on 13 May.
He is also facing extradition to the UK, where prosecutors have brought dozens of additional charges, including sexual assault and rape, linked to his time teaching in Scotland.
Authorities in Scotland first sought his extradition in 2018. A Cape Town high court approved the request in 2024 on limited charges, but the process was delayed as further allegations emerged.
Legal representatives for several of Wares’ alleged victims described the conviction as a “significant milestone” and urged authorities to expedite his extradition so he can face trial in Scotland.
Wares denies all charges and has contested the extradition process.