Yolanda Borucki found not guilty of computer hacking after revealing information about pedophile Ashley Paul Griffiths

A “heroic” childcare manager, who went to the media over her concerns about a man who has since been convicted as one of Australia’s worst pedophiles, has had a huge win in court after she was found not guilty of computer hacking allegations. Yolanda Borucki was found not guilty on Friday in Brisbane Magistrates Court after she was charged with computer hacking and misuse causing detriment for allegedly sending confidential details related to an internal investigation into Ashley Paul Griffith from her work computer to her home computer and A Current Affair. In November, Griffith was sentenced to life imprison after pleading guilty to 307 child abuse offences, including rape and in appropriate touching of children in his care. The horrific abuse caused by Griffiths made headlines after Ms Borucki revealed in an interview with A Current Affair in August 2023 that Griffith was seen “kissing” a little girl in a fort at a Brisbane childcare centre run by the church in October 2021. Ms Borucki was charged after police raided her home following a complaint made by her former employer the Uniting Church. The prosecution had argued Ms Borucki had also caused “psychological” damage to the parents named in the internal documents sent to Channel 9, as well as costing the Uniting Church $11,000 in legal fees. Magistrate Kerrie O’Callaghan found the prosecution had failed to prove essential elements of the case, including that Ms Borucki was the actual person to send the emails using her official email account, or that she had illegally used a computer without consent or that she had caused financial detriment over $5000. The court was told 17 emails containing 33 attachments had been sent to Channel 9 and Ms Borucki’s personal email account from her official account on August 3, 2024. However, Ms O’Callaghan said the court had heard evidence that several people had access to Ms Borucki’s email account while it was being monitored after her contract was terminated on July 31, 2023 but before her ability to access the account was disabled on August 4, 2023. Following the decision, the charges against Ms Borucki were dismissed. Griffith, now 46, was jailed in the Brisbane District Court for at least 27 years for his abuse of 65 girls in Queensland and four in Italy. The former childcare worker also faces extradition to NSW for allegedly abusing dozens more girls at a single childcare centre in Sydney. Outside of court, Ms Borucki’s defence lawyer, Ron Behlau – who acted pro bono in the criminal proceedings – said his client had “suffered immeasurably” for trying to do the right thing. “This is a case that should never have been brought against Yolanda Borucki let alone pursued so vigorously by the church and police,” Mr Behlau said. “Her actions were heroic. “She’s suffered immeasurably throughout the prosecution process and is now obviously very relieved. “She looks forward to any inquiry conducted by the authorities to shed light on how Australia’s worst pedophile was permitted to work with children for such a long period and to those who enabled this to occur.”