Extraordinary reason Ashley Paul Griffith is appealing his sentence after he was jailed for abusing 69 girls

One of Australia’s worst pedophiles, Ashley Paul Griffith, is appealing his life sentence on the grounds that his sentence is ‘excessive’.

It was only a month and a half ago that the former childcare worker was sentenced to life in prison after pleading guilty to more than 300 sex crimes against children.

Griffith’s crimes lasted almost two decades in daycare centers in Brisbane and Italy.

It included 28 cases of rape, 190 cases of indecent treatment of a child and 67 cases of creating child exploitation material.

In total, he abused 69 girls while working in childcare.

He was taken into custody in August 2022 after police were able to identify a Brisbane daycare center from bedding in videos he uploaded to the dark web in 2014.

Parents of children at a daycare center where he worked were furious, saying they had raised concerns about him but were accused of sexism.

One mother said she complained about Griffith the first week he started at the center.

‘He was not wearing a uniform, did not introduce himself to the parents and just stared at the children. I thought he must be one of the fathers,” she said.

But her complaint fell on deaf ears: the owner allegedly accused her of gender bias and asked whether the center was “the right place for you and your family.”

Griffith also boasted about his childcare experience and discussed how he helped children “develop their identities” in a now-deleted online profile.

“I love engaging children in meaningful experiences that inspire them to play and learn,” the pedophile wrote.

‘I am particularly fascinated by the way children use creative languages ​​such as drawing, building, painting and music to express themselves and develop their identity.’

At his sentencing in November last year, Judge Paul Smith imposed a life sentence with a non-parole period of 27 years, saying Griffith was ‘depraved and is at high risk of reoffending’.

“People expect their children to be protected in childcare centers and this will be a concern for every parent in this state,” he said.

Judge Smith said Griffith had filmed most of the victims as he sexually assaulted them and there was a chance the videos he shared with others would “remain on the internet forever”.

Griffith’s crimes lasted almost two decades in daycare centers in Brisbane and Italy

“The kids were either awake or asleep…he would often give them an iPad to distract them,” he said.

The judge said that in the videos, Griffith mocked the children when they told him to stop.

Griffith had uploaded videos of himself abusing children to the dark web to access child exploitation material from other members of a website.

He was made a ‘VIP user’ on the website and even wrote comments to other pedophiles advising them about sexually abusing children.

Griffith had initially denied committing any offence, but later made confessions during 13 police interviews, while still downplaying the number of victims and the severity of the assaults, the judge said.

“There was cooperation in identifying victims and the location of the crime… the suspect did not identify any victims that were not captured on video.”

The court also heard harrowing stories from three victims and 20 parents about the impact of his abuse.

“(You were) the one who had to keep them safe in a child care center,” one parent said.

‘I now view every male teacher or caregiver with suspicion. Nowhere is safe.’

A mother said the knowledge of what Griffith did to her daughter would haunt her forever.

“The only time she was away from me was when I put her in your hands, something I will regret for the rest of my life,” she said.

Griffith’s appeal was filed on December 20 and no court date has yet been set.

His lawyers have argued that his sentence is manifestly excessive.

He also faces new charges in NSW involving 23 alleged victims in Sydney.