NSW's longest-serving child abuse detective calls for justice against Australia's worst daycare abuser

Tuesday, 9 December 2025 18:58

After 45 years of service in the force, Detective Chief Inspector Peter Yeomans is retiring on Friday, however, he wants to make sure Ashley Paul Griffith is charged for the alleged abuse of 23 children at a Sydney childcare centre.

NSW's longest-serving child abuse detective is pushing for the country's worst daycare paedophile to face justice in the state.

"Children are so important, and as victims we've just got to do our best for them, and they need a voice," Yeomans said.

Detective Chief Inspector Peter Yeomans is retiring on Friday after his time as NSW's longest-serving child abuse detective.

"I think it's important we get him down here and dealt with."

Griffith is serving a minimum 27-year sentence for abusing 69 girls at daycare centres across Queensland.

However, he is yet to face 180 criminal charges for the alleged abuse of 23 child victims under his care at Explore and Develop Camperdown from 2014 to 2017.

Australia's worst paedophile, ex-childcare worker Ashley Paul Griffith, is appealing his life sentence.

Police informed all affected families three years ago, however they need Griffith to face court for closure.

"It's not good, it's quite horrible actually," Yeomans said.

"We've got to be mindful of these families where it just continues.

"It's another Christmas where they don't get closure. It's another Christmas where they just want to move on with their lives."

Yeomans will be remembered for 25 years of dedication to the child abuse squad.

A formal request for a prisoner transfer has been lodged, however Griffith cannot be brought into NSW until his sentence appeal in Queensland has concluded.

"We've been liaising closely with the attorney-general to make that work in the quickest time that we can," Yeomans said.

Yeomans will be remembered for 25 years of dedication to the child abuse squad.

As a member of the squad, he helped bring a cold case killer to justice 30 years after the gay hate murder of Scott Johnson.

The child abuse squad is on track to take down 600 child abusers this year alone.

"If we don't do something about them, they will continue with these types of crimes. They are recidivist offenders who prey on the very, very vulnerable of our society."

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