NSW police say charges include child rape and relate to 23 alleged victims aged between one and five at a Sydney childcare centre
One of Australia’s most notorious paedophiles is facing hundreds more child abuse charges, including for the alleged rape of children as young as one.
Days after being extradited from Queensland to New South Wales, Ashley Paul Griffith was hit with 202 charges dating from between 2014 and 2017, with police labelling the allegations “deeply disturbing”.
The Queensland man was working at a childcare centre in Sydney’s inner west.
Griffith, 48, was jailed for life in Queensland in November 2024 after he pleaded guilty to more than 300 child sexual offences against nearly 70 victims.
The fresh charges from NSW include 68 counts of rape of a child aged less than 10 and 42 counts of aggravated rape of a child aged less than 10 who was under his authority.
Other charges include 69 counts of aggravated indecent assault and 23 charges of producing child abuse material.
Police said the charges pertained to 23 alleged victims aged between one and five.
He was charged while being held in Silverwater Correctional Complex in Sydney.
The NSW police assistant commissioner Brett Greentree said the lengthy investigation included collaboration with police across the nation.
“The allegations before the court are deeply disturbing and involve some of the most vulnerable members of our community,” he said.
“Every child deserves to be safe and protected from harm. NSW Police is committed to ensuring those who exploit positions of trust to offend against children are identified, investigated and brought before the courts.”
Griffith arrived in NSW on Wednesday.
In Queensland, he admitted to assaulting and filming young girls over the course of years while working at childcare centres.
His transfer was approved by a Brisbane magistrate earlier in the month, where the alleged victims’ supporters yelled insults at the rapist as he stood in the dock for the decision.
- New South Wales
- Queensland
- news
Source: www.theguardian.com
