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 NSW, Ashley Paul Griffith, ۴۸, was hit with ۲۰۲ charges dating from between ۲۰۱۴ and ۲۰۱۷, with police labelling the allegations “deeply disturbing”.
The Queensland man was working at a childcare centre in Sydney’s inner west.
Griffith was jailed for life in Queensland in November ۲۰۲۴ after he pleaded guilty to more than ۳۰۰ child sexual offences against nearly ۷۰ victims.
The fresh charges from NSW include ۶۸ counts of rape of a child aged less than ۱۰ and ۴۲ counts of aggravated rape of a child aged less than ۱۰ that was under his authority.
Other charges include ۶۹ counts of aggravated indecent assault and ۲۳ charges of producing child abuse material.
Police said the charges pertained to ۲۳ alleged victims aged between one and five.
He was charged while being held in Silverwater Correctional Complex in Sydney.
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.”
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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.
