Serial pedophile Ashley Paul Griffith appeals sentence as manifestly excessive

Premier David Crisafulli has revealed a decision from convicted pedophile Ashley Paul Griffith to appeal is sentence will not delay an investigation into failures within the child safety system.

A court sketch of Ashley Paul Griffith

Convicted serial pedophile Ashley Paul Griffith’s decision to appeal his 27-year prison sentence will not delay a major investigation into the failures within the child safety system which allowed his offending to go on for so long.

Premier David Crisafulli said Griffith’s appeal would add “complexities” to the review set to be headed by Queensland’s Family and Child Commissioner Luke Twyford.

But Mr Crisafulli said the review could not be delayed.

“I don’t want the review to be delayed because there are some issues, including Blue Cards (system), that have to be reviewed,” he said.

“Now clearly this appeal will bring some complexities into that case, but I remain committed to doing that review, because I don’t think we can wait.”

Mr Crisafulli described Griffith’s offending as “horrendous”.

Convicted pedophile Ashley Paul Griffith.

The LNP made it an election promise to hold a probe into how Griffith’s offending was able to go on for so long, with a vow to launch an inquiry led by the QFCC into Blue Card child protection system within in first 100 days of taking office.

There is less than a month left until that milestone must be met. Attorney-General Deb Frecklington in early December said she was working through the terms of reference for the inquiry.

Griffith’s defence team at Gnech and Associates lodged an appeal before Christmas, arguing the sentence imposed was “manifestly excessive”.

Griffith, 46, dubbed Australia’s worst pedophile, pleaded guilty last September to 307 offences including the abuse of 65 young girls at 11 Brisbane childcare centres over a 20-year period.

The abuse included 28 counts of rape, 190 counts of indecently treating a child in his care, 67 counts of making child exploitation material and 15 counts of maintaining a sexual relationship with a child.

His legal team had sought a sentence of 25 to 30 years with a non parole period of 15 years.

Originally published as Serial pedophile Ashley Paul Griffith appeals sentence as manifestly excessive