Childcare worker to face 320 abuse charges
Written by admin on September 2, 2024
A childcare worker accused of being one of Australia’s worst alleged pedophiles will enter pleas to 320 charges ranging from rape to possessing child exploitation material before a District Court judge.
Ashley Paul Griffith was initially slapped with a handful of child abuse-related charges when first arrested by federal police in August 2022.
But thousands of additional charges were laid following a protracted police investigation, where more child abuse material was allegedly found on devices belonging to the Gold Coast man.
Mr Griffith, 45, is due to appear in person before Brisbane District Court on Monday.
He is now expected to enter pleas to 320 charges after his matter was expedited to the higher court earlier this year.
Mr Griffith remains in custody on remand.
Police charged him with two counts of making child exploitation material and one count of using a carriage service for child pornography material in August 2022.
It is alleged more child abuse material was found on devices belonging to Mr Griffith a year later, resulting in more than 1600 additional charges being laid – including rape, indecent treatment of children and making child exploitation material.
These offences are included in the 320 charges remaining against him.
Mr Griffith is alleged to have recorded his abuse of children – all of them allegedly pre-pubescent girls – working at 10 childcare centres in Brisbane between 2007 to 2013 and 2018 to 2022.
Police allege further offences took place at a location in Europe between 2013 and 2014 and in a Sydney centre between 2014 and 2017.
Videos and photographs allegedly produced by Griffith were first spotted on a dark web platform by investigators in 2014.
They were only traced back to a Brisbane childcare centre when he was first arrested.
Australian Federal Police (AFP) in a statement said it was confident all 87 Australian children allegedly recorded had been identified and their parents informed.
Some are now over 18.
Mr Griffith has worked at other childcare centres but is not alleged to have offended there.
In a since-deleted staff profile at one of the centres he worked at, Mr Griffith said he was a “firm believer in play-based learning”.
“I love engaging children in meaningful experiences that inspire their play and learning,” he said.
“Young children are natural inquirers, exploring the world through their senses, seeking answers and building theories.
“As an Early Childhood Teacher I hope to share this journey, learning side-by-side children and inspiring them.”
Under Queensland law, Mr Griffith initially could not be identified due to legislation preventing alleged sexual offenders from being named until they are committed to stand trial in a higher court.
Changes to legislation in October last year allowed him to be identified.
