Australian ex-childcare worker pleads guilty to sexual abuse

SYDNEY: 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.

It took Judge Anthony Rafter more than two hours to read out the 307 charges against Griffith in the Brisbane courtroom where several victims and their families had gathered, according to state broadcast ABC. Police accused the 46-year-old of being one of Australia’s worst ever paedophiles after the charges against him were made public last year. Griffith was first arrested in 2022 for making child sexual abuse content. A year later he was charged with 1,623 offences against 91 children.