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Monster childcare pedophile Ashley Paul Griffith handed life sentence

A devastated parents of Ashley Griffith’s victims have called out the childcare centre failures that allowed the pedophile to commit crimes.

Father's heartbreaking response sentencing of Ashley Paul Griffiths

 

Monster pedophile Ashley Paul Griffith has been handed a life sentence.

Judge Paul Smith described the childcare worker’s prolific offending as “depraved”.

“This was very serious offending in terms of length and scale,” he said.

“The victims were very vulnerable and there was a significant breach of trust.”

He said the public expected their children would be protected in a childcare setting,

“The case was an overwhelming one with the offences caught on video and photos. A conviction was inevitable on most of the counts,” Judge Smith said.

Monster pedophile Ashley Paul Griffith has been handed a life sentence.
Monster pedophile Ashley Paul Griffith has been handed a life sentence.

He said statements Griffith had made to a psychiatrist showed a “lack of full insight” into his behaviour and the impact it had had on his victims.

Victims and their families smiled and comforted each other as the sentenced was announced, some wiping away tears.

Family members screamed “pedophile and pig” as Griffith looking despondent was led away.

Several women screamed at Griffith as he was led from court.

Victims share horrific abuse by Ashley Paul Griffith

The mother of one of Griffith’s victims spoke outside court, saying it was a relief to have been able to look the predator in the eye and tell him the impact he’d had on their lives.

“Today feels like we’ve had some form of justice after a really tough couple of years,” she said.

“My daughter, she’s six at the moment, and she has memory of what happened.

“But the best thing is that when she’s older and she understands, I’m going to be able to tell her that he got put into prison for the rest of his life because of the actions of incredible agents working with the (Australian) Federal Police.”

She said the outcome felt like a huge win for all the girls victimised by Griffith.

“And I feel so proud to be able to say that he’s not going to get parole for 27 years,” she said.

Parents of one of the victims after the sentencing hearing for former childcare worker Ashley Paul Griffith. Picture: John Gass
Parents of one of the victims after the sentencing hearing for former childcare worker Ashley Paul Griffith. Picture: John Gass

“Ultimately, I think at the end of the day, justice is going to be served and the public is going to be protected - no girls are ever going to be touched by him again.”

She described sitting near Griffith in the court room as “jarring” and said he stared at her as she read aloud her victim impact statement.

“That was really, really hard,” the mother said.

Ashley Paul Griffiths Arrest Footage Released

“I remember just shaking because this was someone that I trusted my daughter’s care with. (I’m) just really relieved that I am able to face him and look him in the eye.”

She said she would not read the letter of apology Griffith had written.

“I think it would just be upsetting because as much as he can feel sorry or feel remorse, I don’t know if he actually genuinely does and it doesn’t take away what’s happened either.

“I have a lot of sense of betrayal I think.

“There’s a distrust in the system, there’s a distrust in policies that are supposed to protect our kids, but I think most of all, the betrayal of when you send your kids somewhere and he’s just been doing what he’s done to your child.

Ashley Paul Griffith sentenced to life in prison for his deprived acts against young girls

“And to find out retrospectively - he’s looking at you and saying ‘she’s having a great day’ and he’s just been raping her.

“It’s hard to separate the anger that I feel at the childcare centre and then the anger that I feel at him. They’re both intertwined because they didn’t prevent him from doing what he did.”

Judge Smith set a non parole period of 27 years - meaning he will be eligible for parole on August 20, 2049.

Judge Smith said he imposed a life sentence despite the pleas of guilty, cooperation by Grifith with police and lack of criminal history.

Griffith’s brazenness was detailed in court including abusing children for up to 30 minutes at time and continuing to offend after twice being reported to Queensland Police.

He even wrote to parents of a childcare centre to assure them safeguards were in place after rumours of a pedophile there was posted online.

One of the parents speaking outside court. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen/Courier Mail
One of the parents speaking outside court. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen/Courier Mail

Judge Smith said while Griffith was working at Brisbane childcare centre a child reported that a female teacher had touched her inappropriately.

Around that time a social media post was published suggesting a pedophile was at the daycare centre, the court heard.

Griffith then wrote to parents about the “scurrilous post on social media”.

“Please be advised we are taking this issue very seriously,” he said in his letter.

“We want to reassure families that the wellbeing and safety of the or your family are of paramount importance to the center, and that we take child protection extremely seriously.”

The court heard he abused several children while working at that centre.

Queensland Police actually investigated Griffith while he was working at that centre but after denying any offending he was not charged and continued to work there before moving onto another place, the court heard.

While working at a new childcare centre his shifts were cancelled as a result of a notification by a child that Griffith had touched her private parts during rest time.

“Police spoke to the child ... and determined the disclosures made did not meet the necessary threshold for criminal investigation,” Judge Smith said.

Griffith did not return to that centre but did go on to abuse more children.

Judge Smith said Grifith was willing to offend against victims “despite other children being proximate”

“Some videos he took were brief whereas some victims he offended against for up to 30 minutes at a time,” he said.

Griffith photographed and videoed his abuse against all victims bar one.

Sketch artist image of Paedophile Ashley Paul Griffith.
Sketch artist image of Paedophile Ashley Paul Griffith.

In setting the non parole period he decided to extend it beyond the usual 15 years to 27 years.

“This is a case of such seriousness and gravity as to warrant a maximum penalty for the following reasons. The offending happened over a lengthy period. It involved many victims, many of the victims were of a very young age and very vulnerable,” he said.

“There was a significant breach of trust involved. He filmed most of this and uploaded some to the Dark Web. That was a significant aggravating feature here. There was planning involved in the offending. There has been a significant impact on the families.

“Denunciation, punishment, deterrence, far outweigh the issue of rehabilitation.”

It comes after the first of two-day sentencing hearing – which started yesterday – was told horrific details of the abuse and offending Griffith inflicted on 65 young girls at 11 Brisbane childcare centres over a 20-year period.

Griffith had pleaded guilty to 307 offences, including 28 counts of rape, 190 counts of indecently treating a child in his care, 67 counts of making child-exploitation material, 15 counts of maintaining a sexual relationship with a child and various other offences against children.

He is also facing prosecution in NSW and Italy relating to alleged victims at childcare centres. Griffith is alleged to have sexually abused another 27 in those jurisdictions.

Queensland Attoerney General Deb Frecklington. Picture: Glenn Campbell
Queensland Attoerney General Deb Frecklington. Picture: Glenn Campbell

Attorney-General Deb Frecklington said wheels were already turning on the establishment of an independent inquiry in relation to the Griffith case and any failures.

“I have been absolutely sickened by this case and my thoughts are with the dozens of innocent children and their families left broken by this abhorrent behaviour,” Ms Frecklington said.

“We must protect the most vulnerable members of our community and do whatever is needed to keep people like this away from our kids.

“As Attorney-General, I am committed to strengthening and streamlining the Blue Card system and the Queensland Family and Child Commission Inquiry is a priority.

“I have received Crown Law advice in relation to the Inquiry and will be working with the Department of Justice in regards to its establishment.”

Queensland Police Commissioner Steve Gollschewski has also requested Victoria Police conduct a review of QPS’s handling of the Griffith case, which it investigated in October 2021 and April 2022.

Based on what was known at the time, QPS has previously said there was not enough evidence to substantiate a criminal offence against Griffith.

It’s the second review to be ordered, after a first - completed by an independent senior detective - found investigations had been conducted according to QPS policy

“The independent review is in progress and the QPS is unable to provide any further information at this time,” a QPS spokeswoman said on Friday.

In a statement, the AFP honoured the bravery of Griffith’s victims and acknowledge the painstaking work carried out by its investigators.

“The AFP recognises that today is a deeply traumatic day for so many people whose lives have been permanently affected by the crimes of one man,” AFP Assistant Commissioner Justine Gough said.

“As always, our thoughts are with the families and victims and we will continue to offer support to each and every one of them.

“The bravery of the victims and their families has humbled our investigators and we know any jail sentence will not be enough for those whose trust was breached in such an horrific manner.”

Australian Federal Police Commander Assistant Commissioner Justine Gough. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen
Australian Federal Police Commander Assistant Commissioner Justine Gough. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen

In speaking of AFP investigators who trawled through child exploitation material to identify Griffith, she said it was a job “nobody wishes we had to do, but unfortunately there are too many predators who prey on our children.”

The AFP’s investigation into the offender was not sparked by a report of crime but because “of our truly dedicated AFP members, many of whom are parents”.

“At the time in 2014, the 10 videos and 46 images this man uploaded to the dark web were no different and our investigators determined they would never give up – even with the knowledge the perpetrator and victims may not be in Australia,” she said.

“AFP victim identification experts kept going back to the images and videos, searching for any vital clue that would reveal the identity of the man or his victims and their location.

“When the AFP pieced together the clues from the images – including bed sheets and other distinguishing features of the rooms – investigators quickly identified the man and, within 24 hours, had executed a search warrant and arrested him.

“He has been in custody since that day, unable to abuse anymore children.”

About 50 AFP members have worked on this case since 2014.

Gough paid tribute to each one including victim identification specialists and the Queensland Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team.

“We also thank our partners in the Queensland Police Service, New South Wales Police Force, Department of Home Affairs and our global law enforcement partners, who we have collaborated with since 2014, to bring this man to justice,” she said.

“As always, our thoughts remain with the victims and their families.”

Original URL: https://www.couriermail.com.au/truecrimeaustralia/police-courts-qld/monster-childcare-pedophile-ashley-paul-griffith-handed-life-sentence/news-story/f1c4ebd62d3aa818301b6da8743599f1