Former childcare worker confesses to over 300 crimes of child abuse

Sydney, Australia, September 2 (EFE).- A former Australian childcare worker pleaded guilty on Monday to 307 charges of sexually abusing dozens of girls, including rape, at daycare centers in Australia and Italy between 2003 and 2022.

The suspect, Ashley Paul Griffith, 46, is suspected of committing the crimes in several locations in Australia and in Pisa, Italy, judicial sources in the Australian state of Queensland told EFE.

The charges include 28 counts of rape, 190 counts of indecent treatment of minors and 67 counts of producing material for the sexual exploitation of minors.

Griffith appeared in court in Brisbane, the Queensland capital, on Monday. He will remain in custody until his next hearing on September 9, one of the final steps before his sentencing and sentencing, the sources added.

Several victims and their families attended the emotional hearing in Brisbane, where many parents burst into tears as the victims’ names were read out, Australia’s public broadcaster ABC reported.

A parent of a girl abused by Griffith, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, expressed disbelief that the accused had gone unnoticed for so long. The girl’s father added that his daughter is not yet aware of the abuse, so he and his wife will have to explain what happened and manage the impact on her life.

“As she grows up, we’ll deal with it as it comes, but it’s something we’ve been dealing with our whole lives now,” the child’s father said. “It was good that (he pleaded guilty) and we can now move on to the next step.”

Griffith was arrested by Australian police in August 2022 and initially charged with offences relating to possession of child sexual exploitation material.

However, after searching his electronic devices, authorities charged him with more than 1,000 child abuse offenses, including rape. Hundreds of those charges were later dropped, bringing the total to 307.

Under Queensland law, the maximum penalty for rape is life imprisonment. EFE

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