Former Childcare Worker Pleads Guilty to Historic Child Abuse Crimes

Former childcare worker Ashley Paul Griffith pleaded guilty to numerous charges of raping, sexually abusing, and exploiting dozens of girls under his care in Australia and Italy. His sentencing, which could take over two days due to the volume of victim impact statements, is scheduled to follow.

Former childcare worker Ashley Paul Griffith on Monday pleaded guilty to raping, sexually abusing, and exploiting dozens of girls under his care in Australia and Italy.

Judge Anthony Rafter spent more than two hours reading the 307 charges against Griffith in a Brisbane courtroom, where victims and their families were present, according to ABC. The 46-year-old was labeled one of Australia's worst paedophiles by police after last year's public revelation of the charges.

Griffith was initially arrested in 2022 for creating child sexual abuse material. In 2023, he faced 1,623 charges involving 91 children. Although some charges were dropped, Monday's indictment concerned about 60 children, many under the age of 12.

The crimes occurred between 2003 and 2022 across twelve locations in Australia and Pisa, Italy. Griffith remains in custody and awaits sentencing, which the court expects to take over two days to accommodate victim impact statements, ABC reported.

(With inputs from agencies.)