A vile child predator who abused children he looked after at several Queensland centres has admitted hundreds of charges of child sex offences in court.
Ashley Paul Griffith was initially charged with several counts relating to child abuse when he was first arrested by the Australian Federal Police in August 2022.
But thousands more charges were laid following a lengthy police investigation, where more child abuse material was allegedly found on devices belonging to the Gold Coast man.
The Brisbane District Court was packed, with relatives of the victims filling the public gallery for Griffith’s arraignment.
The federal police are also present.
Griffith was due to plead guilty or guilty to 320 charges in court, but prosecutors dropped 13 of the indecent assault charges on Monday morning.
He answered “guilty” to each of the charges as they were read individually in the file.
Griffith pleaded guilty to a total of 307 charges, including 190 counts of indecent treatment of children, 67 counts of making child exploitation material, 28 counts of rape, 15 counts of maintaining an unlawful relationship with a child, 4 counts of making child exploitation material, one count of distributing child exploitation material, one count of possession of child exploitation material and one count of using a transportation service to access child pornography.
Ashley Paul Griffith pleaded guilty to the charges in the Brisbane District Court on Monday
Griffith pleaded guilty to a total of 307 charges and offered no further answers to the court.
Some of the indecent assault charges date back to 2003, while others span dates between 2008 and 2009.
Asked if he had anything to say in response, Griffiths shook his head and silently said “no” before sitting down.
The court was told a sentencing date was being arranged in November for the Director of Public Prosecutions to take up the matter.
Crown prosecutor Stephanie Gallagher said the court would need to accommodate a large number of victims, who could give impact statements to the court.
He also requested that psychiatric and pre-sentence reports be prepared for Griffith.
District Court Judge Anthony Rafter scheduled another citation for Sept. 9.
Police initially charged him with two counts of making child exploitation material and one count of using a child pornography transportation service in August 2022.
More child abuse material was allegedly found on devices belonging to Griffith a year later, leading to more than 1,600 additional charges, including rape, indecent treatment of children and making child exploitation material.
These crimes are included in the 320 charges that remain against him.
Griffith is alleged to have filmed his abuse of children, all allegedly prepubescent girls, while working at ten childcare centres in Brisbane between 2007 and 2013 and between 2018 and 2022.
Police say other offences took place at a location in Europe between 2013 and 2014 and at a Sydney centre between 2014 and 2017.
Investigators first spotted videos and photographs purportedly produced by Griffith on a dark web platform in 2014.
His whereabouts could only be traced to a Brisbane daycare centre when he was first arrested.
AFP said in a statement that it is confident that the 87 Australian children allegedly filmed have been identified and their parents informed.
Some are already over 18 years old.
Griffith pleaded guilty to hundreds of crimes committed while working in daycare centers.
Griffith has worked at other child care centers, but is not accused of committing crimes there.
In a staff profile of one of the centres where he worked, since deleted, Griffith said he was a “firm believer in play-based learning”.
“I love engaging children in meaningful experiences that inspire their play and learning,” she said.
‘Young children are natural inquirers who explore the world through their senses, seeking answers and building theories.
‘As an early childhood teacher I look forward to sharing this journey, learning alongside children and inspiring them.’
Under Queensland law, Griffith was initially unable to be identified because of legislation that prevents suspected sex offenders from being identified until they face trial in a higher court.
Legislative changes in October last year made it possible to identify them.