Police have been ordered to launch a fresh investigation into how complaints against a vile child predator, widely regarded as Australia’s worst paedophile, were handled in the years leading up to his arrest.
Queensland Police Minister Mark Ryan said a new internal investigation was needed to determine how initial complaints about former childcare worker Ashley Paul Griffith were handled after the 45-year-old was convicted on hundreds of charges relating to the abuse of children in Queensland childcare centres.
Griffith pleaded guilty to 307 child abuse-related charges in District Court on Monday.
The charges include multiple counts of rape and indecent assault of girls in Brisbane between 2007 and 2013 and again between 2018 and 2022.
A further 180 offences against children are alleged to have been committed at a Sydney daycare centre. Griffith has yet to appear in a New South Wales court to answer to these charges.
The first allegations of abuse in Queensland were made to police in 2021, but Griffith was not arrested until August 2022, when he was initially charged with two counts of making child exploitation material and one count of using a service to transport child pornography.
Investigators were able to trace the objects identified in the background of images and videos, which had been posted on the dark web between 2013 and 2014, to a Brisbane childcare centre where Griffith had worked.
Federal police filed thousands of additional charges, which have since been dropped, after more child abuse material was found on devices belonging to Griffith in August 2023.
Police have been ordered to launch a fresh investigation into how complaints against Ashley Paul Griffith (pictured), Australia’s worst suspected paedophile, were handled in the years leading up to his arrest.
Following Griffith’s arrest, Yolanda Borucki revealed she first raised concerns about Griffith while working alongside him at a Queensland childcare centre in 2021.
Speaking to A Current Affair in 2023, Ms Borucki claimed Griffith had been seen kissing a boy at the centre, prompting her to raise concerns with management and eventually pass them on to police.
Queensland Police investigated the complaint in October 2021 and another in April 2022, but found there was insufficient evidence to establish a criminal offence.
In a statement, the Queensland Police Service (QPS) confirmed that both were subject to an “internal review” by a senior independent detective with significant experience in child protection.
“This review found that both investigations had been carried out in accordance with QPS policy and concurred with the original findings that there was insufficient evidence to substantiate a criminal offence based on what was known at the time,” a spokeswoman said.
‘Following further information and evidence was identified as part of the Australian Federal Police (AFP) Operation Tenterfield, the AFP executed a search warrant at the man’s residence in August 2022.’
But Queensland Police Minister Mark Ryan has now demanded a fresh internal inquiry into how complaints were handled following Griffith’s conviction.
Ashley Paul Griffith (pictured) was convicted on 307 counts of child abuse. Courtroom drawing by Scott Breton
“The level of trauma he has inflicted on so many people is almost incomprehensible,” Ryan said.
Generally speaking, I know that the police will always do everything possible to act on complaints and conduct thorough investigations to ensure that perpetrators are held accountable.
‘Although this matter has already been reviewed previously, I have asked the Commissioner if this matter could be examined again.
“If improvements or lessons can be identified, I hope they will be implemented as soon as possible.”
Police said the 2021 complaint was not related to physical contact with a child.
Queensland Police Minister Mark Ryan (pictured) has now demanded a fresh internal inquiry into how complaints were handled following Griffith’s conviction.
“However, the QPS will continue to consider this investigation as the legal proceedings progress,” the spokeswoman said.
‘Some evidence presented during the recent criminal proceedings was not known at the time of the original QPS investigations.’
Griffith was sent back to District Court in early 2024 on a much-reduced 320-count indictment, another 13 of which were dropped at the start of his arraignment Monday.
The venue was packed as relatives of the victims filled the public gallery and stared at Griffith, who was wearing jeans and a striped shirt.
He did not make eye contact with the audience, but instead looked around and remained silent.
Griffith pleaded guilty to 307 charges: 190 counts of indecent treatment of children, 67 counts of producing child exploitation material, 28 counts of rape, 15 counts of maintaining an unlawful relationship with a child, four counts of producing child exploitation material, one count of distributing child exploitation material, one count of possessing child exploitation material and one count of using a transportation service to access child pornography.
The charges cover offences committed at childcare centres across the Brisbane region, as well as in Pisa, Italy.
The charges against Griffith in New South Wales include 68 counts of sexual intercourse with a child under 10, 42 counts of aggravated sexual intercourse with a child under 10, 69 counts of aggravated indecent assault and one count of producing child abuse material.
There was room for everyone in the District Court (pictured), as relatives of the victims packed the public gallery and stared at Griffith.
Court proceedings in New South Wales will commence when your matters in Queensland are finalised.
Griffith is alleged to have filmed his abuse of girls (all believed to be prepubescent) working at 10 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.
Griffith has worked at other facilities, but is not accused of committing any crimes while working there.