Former childcare worker pleads guilty to 307 child sex offences in Brisbane and Italy
- Ashley Paul Griffith pleaded guilty to 307 sexual offences against children at childcare centres in Brisbane and Italy between 2007 and 2022.
- Sixty victims were named in court, but their identities are protected; all families have been informed.
- A sentencing date is pending, with a psychiatrist's report requested, highlighting the need for thorough consideration of the case.
Ashley Paul Griffith, a former childcare worker, has admitted to committing 307 sexual offences against numerous children while employed at various childcare centres in Brisbane and Italy from 2007 to 2022. During a court hearing, Griffith, 46, pleaded guilty to all charges, which were read out in a packed courtroom, taking over two hours. The identities of the 60 victims named remain protected for legal reasons, but all families have been informed of the offences. Griffith, who possessed the necessary childcare qualifications, allegedly documented his crimes using phones and cameras at work. He worked at multiple childcare centres in Brisbane, as well as in Sydney and Pisa, Italy. The Australian Federal Police confirmed that he did not offend at every centre where he was employed. A sentencing date has not yet been established, but Griffith is scheduled to appear in court again on September 9 for a mention. The court has ordered a psychiatrist's report to be prepared as part of the pre-sentencing process, which may take over two days due to the number of victim impact statements expected from families. The parents of one victim expressed relief that Griffith confessed and pleaded guilty, avoiding a trial that would have required viewing evidence of his crimes. They voiced concerns about the effectiveness of the childcare system, questioning how someone could commit such extensive offences without detection.