Women and Men Against Child Abuse welcomes arrest of Iain Wares

After decades of evading justice, child rights group Women and Men Against Child Abuse said the arrest of former teacher and alleged paedophile Iain Wares is a step in the right direction in the quest for justice for many families.

The 86-year-old handed himself over and was formally arrested at the Simon’s Town Magistrates Court on Thursday following a United Kingdom (UK) extradition request.

Wares faces 90 charges in the UK, including the sexual and physical abuse of 65 preteen boys in Scotland during his time as a teacher in the 1960s and 70s.

After being arrested, Wares appeared in the Simon’s Town Magistrates court briefly, where he was granted R10,000 bail.

He is expected back in court on 20 November, when the magistrate will decide whether he is extraditable.

Child rights group Women and Men Against Child Abuse has welcomed the arrest.

Spokesperson Marinda Jordan claims Wares has been shielded for years by legal loopholes and secret funders.

“True justice means Wares must face every survivor he ever harmed and only his extradition to the UK will bring closure for victims of the worst paedophile in recent history.”

If extradition is approved, the justice minister is expected to issue a surrender warrant for I Interpol to facilitate his extradition to the UK.