Ashley Paul Griffith has been extradited from Queensland to New South Wales to face 202 additional charges alleging the sexual abuse of children.
The former childcare worker is already serving a life sentence in Queensland after admitting offences against 69 girls at early learning centres in Brisbane and Italy over two decades.
The new charges include 68 counts of sexual intercourse with a child under 10, 42 counts of aggravated sexual intercourse with a child under 10 while under authority, 69 counts of aggravated indecent assault and 23 counts of producing child abuse material.
Police said detectives identified 23 children during their investigation. The children were aged between one and five at the time of the alleged offending.
Griffith has been remanded in custody and is due to appear before Bail Division Local Court 6 on Friday. He will remain in custody in New South Wales until any criminal trial is completed.
Assistant Commissioner Brett Greentree, the state crime commander, said the charges followed years of investigative work by the Child Abuse Squad and partner agencies.
“The charges laid today follow years of painstaking investigative work by Child Abuse Squad detectives and partner agencies, who have remained unwavering in their commitment to identify victims and pursue justice on their behalf,” he said.
“This investigation involved the forensic examination of thousands of digital files, extensive victim identification inquiries and collaboration with law enforcement partners across Australia.”
Detective Superintendent Linda Howlett, commander of the Child Abuse Squad, said identifying the children and supporting their families had been central to the investigation.
“The children identified during this investigation were between one and five years old at the time of the alleged offending and remained at the forefront of every investigative decision made by strike force detectives,” she said.
“Our detectives have worked tirelessly to identify victims, support their families and gather the evidence necessary to place these serious allegations before the court.”
Anyone with information that may assist investigations into the distribution of child abuse material has been asked to contact Crime Stoppers.
