SYDNEY – Former childcare worker Ashley Paul Griffith on Sept 2 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 broadcaster ABC.

       The police accused the 46-year-old of being one of Australia’s worst ever paedophiles after the charges against him were made public in 2023.

       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.

       However, some charges were dropped and the ABC reported that the Sept 2 charges related to roughly 60 children.

       Many of the victims were under the age of 12.

       The offences happened between 2003 and 2022 in twelve different locations across Australia, as well as Pisa, Italy.

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       Griffith is in custody and will be sentenced at a later date.

       The court heard that sentencing could take more than two days to give time to read victim impact statements, ABC reported. REUTERS