A childcare worker who admitted hundreds of sexual offences against young girls is due to face sentencing after a prosecutor argued that the victims' families should not be kept waiting.
Ashley Paul Griffith, 46, on September 2 pleaded guilty in Brisbane District Court to more than 300 child sexual offences including 28 charges of rape, as well as ongoing sexual abuse and making child exploitation material.
He admitted offences against multiple children while working in childcare centres across Brisbane between January 2003 and August 2022.
Griffith's case was mentioned on Monday to set a date for his sentencing, which is likely to take two days because of the number of family members who may read their victim impact statements in court.
Defence barrister Sarah Cartledge told Judge Leanne Clare she was concerned that a court-ordered psychiatric report on Griffith might not be ready in time for potential sentencing dates in November.
"There's a lot of information for the psychiatrist and the report itself will be lengthy," Ms Cartledge said.
"It's no easy feat. It's a significant case. Psychiatric reports take time and this a complex case."
Ms Cartledge said Griffith had pleaded guilty and was in custody so there was no reason from the defence's perspective to hold the sentencing before January 2025.
Crown prosecutor Stephanie Gallagher said she wanted to get the sentencing completed before the end of the year.
"There are 65 victims and 65 families keen to see a sentence. November still gives us significant time. There's no indication the report won't be ready," she said.
Judge Clare on Monday set a sentencing date for November 28 and 29 for Griffith and adjourned the matter.
Griffith was arrested in August 2022 by Australian Federal Police and originally charged with more than 1000 offences against 91 young girls, but hundreds of charges were later dropped.
In September he pleaded guilty to 190 counts of indecent treatment of children aged under 12 while a carer, 67 counts of taking indecent photos and videos of children, and 15 counts of repeated sexual abuse of a child.
Queensland Premier Steven Miles on Monday confirmed another review into how officers handled complaints about Griffith was ongoing.
An initial review reportedly found investigations were according to police policy and concurred with the original findings that there was "insufficient evidence to substantiate a criminal offence based on what was known at the time".
However, Police Commissioner Steve Gollschewski was asked to launch another review days after Griffith pleaded guilty to more than 300 child sex offences on September 2.
"I think any parent, indeed any Queenslander, has been shocked by what happened here - it should never have happened," Mr Miles told reporters.
"The police commissioner is having another review of this case to see if there is anything that can or should have been done differently.
"This is just awful. And if there is any way we can avoid any Queensland child experiencing abuse like this again, then we will do it."
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028
Lifeline 13 11 14
Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 (for people aged 5 to 25)
