Nicky Campbell claims 'Savile scale' teacher abuse

Broadcaster Nicky Campbell has claimed a teacher at two Edinburgh schools abused children on a "Savile scale".

He compared Iain Wares to the disgraced BBC TV and radio presenter Jimmy Savile after giving evidence to the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry.

The BBC Radio 5Live presenter told the inquiry he was sexually and physically abused by other teachers while he was a pupil at Edinburgh Academy.

He said he witnessed the sexual abuse of a pupil aged about 10 by Mr Wares.

The 83-year-old retired teacher lives in South Africa where he is fighting extradition to Scotland.

He is facing charges relating to his time teaching at Edinburgh Academy and Fettes Academy in the 1960s and 70s, which he denies.

• Ex-teacher accused of abuse is named after ban lifted

After giving evidence of his own abuse to the inquiry, Mr Campbell became emotional as he told journalists outside the hearing: "It's as if someone at last has told the grown ups about what happened to us when we were little".

He said Mr Wares had abused children on an "industrial scale" at Edinburgh Academy before being moved to Fettes after parents raised concerns.

"We're talking about, for sure, one of the most prolific paedophiles in British history," he said. "And due to the ineptitude of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, he's living in a retirement complex in South Africa with an expensive lawyer delaying and delaying and delaying.

"But this could have been sorted out years ago and should have been sorted out years ago. This is Savile scale."

A spokesman for the COPFS said it had been a complex investigation which had been difficult for all involved.

"In order to protect any future proceedings and to preserve the rights of the complainers, the Crown will not comment further at this stage," he added.

Iain Wares (centre) is facing abuse charges at Wynberg Magistrate's Court in Cape Town

Mr Campbell is one of a number of former pupils of the independent, fee-paying schools who have been giving evidence to the long-running inquiry.

He has previously said the sexual and violent abuse he experienced while a day pupil at the school had a "profound effect on my life".

Warning: Some readers might find some of the following details upsetting

During two hours of testimony on Tuesday morning, he told the inquiry about an occasion when he says a teacher touched his genitals.

The Long Lost Family presenter recalled that the history teacher, Hamish Dawson, would call forward students who were wearing shorts.

Mr Campbell said that on three occasions he was tickled by the teacher on his leg in front of other pupils.

On the fourth he said the teacher's finger went into Mr Campbell's underwear and touched his genitals.

Hamish Dawson died in 2009.

NIcky Campbell said Hamish Dawson sexually abused him at Edinburgh Academy

Mr Campbell also described a time when he was assaulted in a corridor by a teacher when he was aged about 14 or 15. He said he was held down by his hair.

He said he was then kicked and his shirt was ripped. Mr Campbell described this as the worst day of his life.

The 62-year-old, who was adopted by a "very loving family" as a baby, told the inquiry he was sent to the fee-paying school because his parents "wanted the best for me".

He said his form teacher would carry out relentless beatings on pupils using a wooden bat known as a clacken without reason.

Mr Campbell said the teacher would smirk as he told pupils he would see them after the class had finished.

He said the situation was terrifying.

Mr Campbell told the inquiry that on one occasion the same teacher was responsible for "a moment of brutality that never leaves you".

He said that the man held him down and banged him on the head with his knuckles.

Nicky Campbell was a day pupil at Edinburgh Academy

Mr Campbell went on to tell the inquiry he still has nightmares about a beating he said he experienced at the hands of another teacher.

He said he was punched and kicked like a rag doll and that the assault left him crying and screaming.

Afterwards, he said, his mother contacted Edinburgh Academy and received a "mealy mouthed" apology from the teacher.

Mr Campbell told the inquiry he "wept like a little boy" when he heard a programme had been made about sexual abuse at his former school.

He described his subsequent involvement with the project as a life changing moment when he realised abuse was "happening on an industrial scale".

The Edinburgh Academy is the subject of the latest abuse inquiry hearings

In an emotional closing address, Mr Campbell wiped away tears as other former pupils sobbed in the public gallery.

He said Edinburgh Academy must apologise for sending Iain Wares to teach at Fettes.

But the broadcaster described the current rector of the school as "a good man trying to do good things in a dreadful situation".

A spokesperson for Edinburgh Academy said it unreservedly apologised to those "wronged by specific individuals whose roles were to educate, protect and nurture them".

It said it was committed to supporting former pupils and helping investigating allegations of historical abuse.

The Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry was set up in October 2015 to look at the abuse of children in care in Scotland.

Lady Smith, who chairs the inquiry, has heard evidence of abuse at schools including Fort Augustus Abbey in the Highlands, and Loretto School in East Lothian.

She has found that children in homes run by Quarriers, Aberlour Child Care Trust and Barnardo's suffered physical, emotional and sexual abuse

The inquiry has also found that Sisters of Nazareth children's homes and orphanages run by the Daughters of Charity were places of fear.