Sinister act of Australia's worst paedophile

Former neighbours of the disgraced former childcare teacher have expressed their shock over his crimes.

Former neighbours of Australia’s worst paedophile have described their shock at his heinous crimes.

Ashley Paul Griffith pleaded guilty to more than 300 child sexual offences earlier this month, including 28 counts of rape, ongoing sexual abuse, and making child exploitation material.

The offending occurred while he was working in childcare centres across southeast Queensland over a 20-year period from 2003 to 2022.

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Neighbours told A Current Affair Griffith would play his guitar for “hours” on the front porch of his inner Brisbane home.

Shockingly, the porch overlooked a primary school across the road.

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Neighbours stunned by paedophile's offending

One neighbour told the program she felt disgusted by what she learned of Griffith, although she had no reason to suspect him while he lived near her.

Last year, his sister tried to sell his prized Fender guitar online, telling prospective buyers that her brother had 'passed away suddenly'. 

'He took immaculate care of his instruments and this is in perfect, as new condition,' she wrote.

Griffith used online bios on childcare centre websites to lie about how much he cared for children.

One post read: “I believe children thrive when they feel loved, supported and safe. I also love creating experiences that excite children and foster their curiosity and wonder.”

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"They groom the children, then the offending commences"

Criminal psychologist Tim Watson-Munro told A Current Affair some offenders can blend into environments around them and gain trust, describing it as a “chameleon-like ability”.

“They’re predatory, they groom the children, they garner the trust of the children’s parents and significant others in the workplace and then the offending commences,” Watson-Munro said.

Griffith was arrested in August 2022 and originally charged with more than 1000 offences against 91 young girls, but hundreds of charges were later dropped.

His case was mentioned in court on Monday to set a date for his sentencing.

This is likely to take at least two days due to the family members expected to read their victim impact statements.

Originally published as Sinister act of Australia's worst paedophile