Former child care worker pleads guilty to abusing dozens of girls in Australia and Italy

A former child care worker pleaded guilty on Monday to raping, sexually abusing and exploiting dozens of girls in Australia and Italy.

According to ABC News, Ashley Paul Griffith has been summoned to the District Court in Brisbane, Australia, on over 300 charges of rape, sexual abuse and exploitation of minors.

The crimes, involving around 60 children, occurred between 2003 and 2022 in kindergartens in Brisbane and Italy.

The parents of a young victim described the “horrific” moment they learned their daughter had been sexually abused. Although they decided to tell their daughter what happened, she is still very young and does not fully understand the situation.

“As she gets older, we'll deal with it as it comes, but now it's something we'll have to deal with for the rest of our lives,” her father said.

“It was a relief that (he pleaded guilty) and we can now move on to the next step,” he added.

Griffith, 46, has worked in various daycare centers in Brisbane as well as in Sydney and Pisa, Italy.

He was arrested by officers from the Australian Federal Police and Queensland Police in October 2022.