Families of victims of 'Australia's worst paedophile' tell of their pain as the former childcare worker prepares to learn his fate after 20 years of vile abuse

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A former childcare worker who preyed on girls aged between two and seven who were in his care over the course of 20 years will learn his fate during his sentencing.

Dubbed one of Australia's worst paedophiles, Ashley Paul Griffith, 47, will be sentenced in the Brisbane District Court on Friday.

Earlier this year, Griffith pleaded guilty to 307 charges linked to the abuse of children in his care when he worked for childcare centres in Queensland and overseas.

The charges included 190 counts of indecent treatment of children, 67 counts of making child exploitation material, 28 counts of rape, and 15 counts of maintaining an unlawful relationship with a child.

In addition there were another four counts of producing child exploitation material, one count of distributing child exploitation material, one count of possessing child exploitation material and one count of using a carriage service to access child pornography material.

Griffith's offending spanned throughout his career in childcare, from 2003 up until his arrest in 2022.

Griffith was arrested after Australian Federal Police found evidence he had filmed or photographed himself sexually abusing victims - all young girls - while he was working at childcare centres.

The court was told the police had discovered several videos online and were able to link them to Griffith in 2022 after discovering a branded blanket visible in one of the videos that was sold to specific childcare centres in Queensland.

On Thursday, Griffith's victims and their families delivered their impact statements, with many revealing to the court the harrowing realisations they have to now endure after learning the extent of his offending since his arrest. 

Former childcare worker Ashley Paul Griffith will be sentenced on Friday 

Ashley Paul Griffith pleaded guilty to 307 charges against him.

The court was told many of Griffith's victims weren't even aware or had any memory of the vile offending.

One mother, who cannot be legally identified, said the knowledge of what Griffith had done to her daughter would haunt her forever.

'The only time she was away from me is when I placed her in your hands which is something I'll regret for the rest of my life,' she said.

'The person I knew myself to know had died from the horror of your betrayal.'

Another parent said their daughter's 'innocent childhood had been taken away' because of Griffith's offending.

'(You were the) one who was supposed to keep them safe in a childhood centre,' the parent said.

'I now look at every male teacher or carer with suspicion. Nowhere is safe.'

One father said he felt 'grief and anger' because he felt like he'd failed in his 'duty to protect my family'.

The 47-year-old had been offending since 2003 until he was arrested in 2022 

'The emotional and psychological toll on our family has been significant,' he said.

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'Their innocence was stolen and that will never be fully erased.

'My heart aches that they're carrying this burden even if it's in ways they cannot articulate.

'I fear the event will cast a shadow on their future in ways we will not be able to fully understand yet.

'The harm inflicted on families will never be erased.'

Griffith was initially arrested and charged with two counts of making child exploitation material and one count of using a carriage service for child pornography material in August 2022.

AFP officers later charged him with 1600 additional charges after more child abuse material was found on devices belonging to Griffith a year later.

Queensland Director of Public Prosecutions Todd Fuller KC told the court the 'true horror' of Griffith's offending 'is hard to capture in words'.

Justice Paul Smith will hand down his verdict on Friday. Picture: NewsWire / Glenn Campbell

'The offending is abhorrent and difficult to comprehend,' he said.

Mr Fuller argued that Griffith should be given a life sentence with a non-parole period of 30 years.

Griffith's defence barrister, Sarah Cartledge said her client should serve a non-parole period of 15 years if a head sentence of 25 to 30 years was handed down.

Ms Cartledge said Griffith's offending was 'deserving of significant punishment' but his offending was 'not the worst category'.

'I want to make clear to the court that offences against children are abhorrent,' Ms Cartledge said.

'Nothing I can say is intended to take away from that; however, it is important all features before this case are put before the court.

'Emotion should not play a role (in sentencing).'

Justice Paul Smith will hand down his sentence at 11am on Friday.

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