Former teacher Iain Wares denies allegations of abuse in court

A pivotal moment was reached in the case of former SA teacher, Iain Wares, 86, who took the stand in his own defence, denying allegations of physical and sexual abuse.

Wares, is wanted by UK authorities for 76 counts of sexual assault of young boys, and is facing a local case of one of his former learners.

On Tuesday at the Wynberg Regional Court, Wares' legal team began their battle to prove his innocence, following the state closing its case in August.

Wares, who pleaded not guilty to a charge of indecent assault, lost his bid for a Section 174 discharge.

The local case involves a male victim who came forward after nearly four decades.

Wares is also appealing his extradition to Scotland where he is supposed to face his alleged crimes abroad.

The victim took the witness stand a year ago, claiming he was abused by Wares who had been his teacher at Rondebosch Boys’ Preparatory during 1988 and had touched his buttocks and penis.

On the stand yesterday, Wares appeared confident and talkative, armed with his walking stick while being questioned by his attorney Ben Matthewson.

Wares said he had a sterling teaching career at Rondebosch Boys' Preparatory School for 27 years and had taught there between 1980 to 2006, in which he has received no complaints.

He indicated that he has been an English, Mathematics and Geography teacher.

Matthewson asked Wares whether he had taught any sports or athletics to which he answered cricket, squash and rugby but never athletics and was the school’s sports administrator towards the end of his teaching career.

He further asked Wares if he was aware who the complainant was, to which he denied any recollection of, however detailing that he had taught him Geography twice a week for thirty minutes periods.

Matthewson then asked Wares how big the schools classrooms and corridors were and whether any altercations or violence would be noted and Wares said it was between three to four metres wide and that any such acts would be noted.

Matthewson turned his attention to the complainant, indicating that he had been in standard five, now commonly referred to as Grade seven.

“Were are you his teacher?” Matthewson asked, to which Wares answered, no.

Wares added the school incorporated very little corporal punishment and was a non-violent and caring environment.

“We know that there are no allegations that anything happened in a classroom but in the corridors," Mathewson stated.

“The complainant testified that you would walk from your room and hit his head against the wall and use his hair as leverage."

Wares said in response: “I never did, I only taught him Geography and plenty of people would have seen it, the passages were quite narrow.”

Matthewson presented that Wares had a remarkable teaching career with no complaints received from parents or the school between 1980 to 2006.

Matthewson asked whether assaults were noticed: “If you had to walk up to a young man and put your hand into his pants and in front of everyone, would that have been noticed?

“No it would have been seen,” Wares said.

Matthewson asked if he had assaulted the complainant, to which he said no and that he did not know him.

“Did you touch him inappropriately?” Matthewson asked and Wares responded stating no.

Matthewson put it to Wares that the complainant could have had ample time to open a case but did not, to which Wares confirmed there had been no case opened earlier.

The case resumes on November 7.

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