source : the age
One of Australia’s worst paedophiles, who was jailed for life for sexually assaulting children during his 19 years working in childcare centres, will face the Queensland Court of Appeal next month in a bid to have his sentence reduced.
Ashley Paul Griffith was sentenced in 2024 for hundreds of offences against children dating back to 2003, with the youngest victim a one-year-old. He pleaded guilty to 307 charges, including 28 counts of rape.
The former childcare staffer had worked in centres across both Queensland and NSW. He is yet to be extradited interstate to face charges over 180 offences allegedly committed while employed at a Sydney daycare centre, after police identified 23 victims from NSW.
One of the NSW victim’s parents spoke to this masthead last month, saying delays within the justice system were retraumatising and distressing.
The parent wrote to NSW Attorney-General Michael Daley to ask for Griffith’s extradition to be expedited. Daley said he would do everything in his power to ensure Griffith was transferred and subject to justice in NSW.
Daley said Queensland Attorney-General Deb Frecklington had written to him in February this year advising that there were no objections to Griffith being transferred to NSW following the conclusion of his pending appeal.
Griffith was described as “depraved” by his sentencing judge, and was deemed to have a high risk of reoffending.
His legal team submitted that he should face a sentence of 25 to 30 years with a non-parole period of 15 years.
He was given a non-parole period of 27 years.
In January last year, Griffith’s legal team confirmed they had lodged an appeal on the grounds his sentence was manifestly excessive.
With the appeal first lodged before Christmas 2024, Queensland’s Court of Appeal will now have a half-day hearing on May 28 for Griffith’s case.
Dozens of parents and victims were present in court when Griffith was sentenced, with the case sparking questions over the safety of children in the childcare industry.
The court heard Griffith had filmed all but one of his 65 victims as he sexually assaulted them, and could be heard in the footage mocking victims for saying his abuse was “yucky” and telling him to stop.
The sentencing judge said the children were awake or asleep, and Griffith frequently gave them an iPad to distract them.
Griffith made admissions about the assaults during 13 police interviews, but initially denied committing any offence. He also played down the number of victims and seriousness of the assaults, the court heard.
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