Queensland Transfers Ashley Paul Griffith to Face 202 Charges
Ashley Paul Griffith has been transferred from Queensland to New South Wales, where police expect to charge him with 202 offences linked to alleged victims and childcare centres. He is expected to remain in custody through any criminal trial. The transfer follows a court approval and the dismissal of his appeal against a life sentence.
Queensland authorities have transferred Ashley Paul Griffith to New South Wales, where detectives expect to charge him with 202 alleged child sex offences. The notorious childcare paedophile extradited from a Brisbane prison is expected to face charges linked to alleged victims and his work at NSW childcare centres.
Griffith left prison on Wednesday and was to be driven to Sydney to face charges this week. The offences allegedly occurred over several years and include sexual intercourse with a child under the age of 10, indecent assault of a person under 16 and producing child abuse material.
The transfer brings a new set of allegations before NSW police while Griffith remains in custody. Queensland Corrective Services said he was moved into NSW Corrective Services custody at Tweed Heads, in northern NSW, and will stay in custody until any criminal trial is completed.
Transfer followed appeal dismissal
Griffith was sentenced in 2024 to life imprisonment, with a non-parole period of 27, after pleading guilty to 307 child sexual offences. His appeal against the severity of the sentence was dismissed in June, clearing the way for his transfer to NSW.
A Brisbane court formally approved the extradition in early October after the Queensland government sought to expedite the transfer. Before leaving the state, Griffith had been serving his sentence at Wolston Correctional Centre, a high-security prison in Brisbane’s south-west.
The legal arrangements also determine where he will serve the rest of his current sentence. Queensland Corrective Services said Griffith will serve the remainder in whichever state imposes the longest sentence. The new NSW proceedings therefore concern alleged offences separate from the offences covered by his existing guilty pleas.
That distinction has an immediate consequence for the case: NSW detectives can pursue charges tied to alleged offending in the state, while Griffith remains imprisoned and faces any resulting trial there. The police allegations have not been established by a court.
Queensland minister comments on transfer
Queensland Corrective Services Minister Laura Gerber commented on the transfer on Wednesday afternoon. “I’m going to say what most Queenslanders are thinking right now: I hope you hit every pothole on the way,” she said.
Gerber added: “If you’re a monster and you’ve hurt children, you will face that justice, and there will be zero favours given.”
Support is available through the National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732). Full Stop Australia also offers free, confidential trauma-specialist counselling around the clock at 1800 385 578 for people affected by sexual, domestic or family violence.
NSW detectives are expected to lay 202 charges against Griffith.
