Man jailed after grooming girl he met on Roblox
Man Jailed After Grooming Girl He Met on Roblox
A 19-year-old man has been sentenced to 28 months in prison for grooming a 14-year-old girl he met on the online gaming platform Roblox. Carlo Tritta, from Eastleigh, Hampshire, admitted to creating indecent images of a child, engaging in sexual communication with a minor, and compelling a girl aged 13 to 15 to observe a sexual act. He also confessed to intimidating a witness and damaging property during his attempts to undermine the case against him.
Tritta’s actions began 11 months prior to his arrest, when he first connected with the victim in Greater Manchester while playing a game on Roblox. Initially, the girl told him she was 15, but later admitted her true age was 14 in December 2024. Throughout their interaction, Tritta used flattery and gifts, including takeaway food and a secret phone, to build trust. As their conversations evolved, he pushed the girl to share intimate images and eventually persuaded her to move their messages to platforms like WhatsApp and Snapchat.
“The young girl believed she was in a loving relationship, but it was rooted in coercion, control, and abuse,” stated Det Supt Rod Kenny of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary. “His primary goal was to obtain indecent images of her as a child, employing methods such as flattery and gifts to achieve this.”
The case emerged when the girl’s mother discovered a message on her daughter’s phone in August 2025. Tritta had twice traveled over 200 miles (322km) from Hampshire to the girl’s home, bypassing his bail conditions by breaking the doorbell camera and entering the property. He also sent two cards to the victim, requesting she not support the prosecution and warning her family about potential social service involvement. In one card, he falsely accused her mother of having drugs at home.
During his police interview, Tritta acknowledged that he had only realized his actions were illegal after being under investigation. Judge Kieran Rankin highlighted the impact of his behavior, noting: “Your conduct has left the girl and her family deeply affected, creating a sense of fear and anxiety.” The victim testified that she felt trapped, often fearing to go downstairs at night due to Tritta’s presence. Her mother described the household as “constantly on edge,” no longer feeling like a safe place.
Roblox’s Response
A Roblox spokesperson expressed sadness over the incident, stating the platform had introduced new age checks in January to restrict communications to users of similar ages or those already known. “Our policies strictly forbid child exploitation, and we have robust safety systems to prevent image sharing and limit chats for younger users,” they added. “While no system is flawless, we continuously improve our protections.”
Karina Lyon of the Crown Prosecution Service emphasized Tritta’s predatory nature, describing his behavior as “deeply troubling” for both the victim and her family. The case underscores the challenges of online interactions, where a virtual connection can lead to real-world harm. The victim now receives therapy to cope with the emotional toll of the experience.
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