Childcare paedophile dubbed one of Australia’s worst ever appeals life sentence

One of Australia’s worst paedophiles is appealing his life sentence on the grounds it is “manifestly excessive”.

Former childcare worker Ashley Paul Griffith, 46, was given a non-parole period of 27 years in October after pleading guilty to hundreds of sexual offences spanning almost 20 years.

Griffith’s lawyers, Gnech and Associates, confirmed an appeal had been lodged on behalf of the 46-year-old on the grounds the sentence was manifestly excessive.

It is understood the appeal was filed before Christmas and is yet to go before the courts which could take months.

Griffith had pleaded guilty to 307 offences, including ongoing sexual abuse and making child exploitation material, against 65 victims aged one to nine beginning in 2003.

He pleaded guilty to 28 counts of rape against girls primarily aged three to five at childcare centres in Queensland between 2007 and 2022.

In sentencing submissions, his defence sought between 25 and 30 years’ imprisonment with a minimum 15 years non-parole as his crimes were not as violent or extreme as other Queensland sex offenders who had been jailed for life.

However, the prosecution sought life imprisonment with a minimum of 30 years without parole for his “calculation and perversion” in targeting children while they slept or by taking them to isolated areas of childcare centres.

Brisbane District Court Judge Paul Smith imposed a life sentence with a non-parole period of 27 years, saying Griffith was “depraved and has a high risk of reoffending”.

The judge said Griffith filmed all but one victim as he sexually assaulted them and there was a chance the videos he shared with others would “live forever on the internet”.

He said Griffith could be heard in the videos mocking victims after they complained his abuse was “yucky” and told him to stop.

Judge Smith said Griffith initially denied committing any offence but later made admissions during police interviews while still downplaying his crimes.

Dozens read impact statements during the sentencing, with victims telling the judge their lives were shattered while parents said they felt “irrevocable pain and guilt”.

Smith noted there had been significant harm to a number of victims and their families which he expected to continue.

He said Griffith used “a degree of violence and emotional manipulation” to enable his abuse.

Griffith was arrested in 2022 when police searched his Gold Coast home and found more than 4000 child abuse images and videos on his devices documenting the majority of his offending.

Griffith is also subject to an arrest warrant for child sexual offences allegedly committed while working in NSW between 2014 and 2018.

If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au.