Man jailed after grooming girl he met on Roblox
Man jailed after grooming girl he met on Roblox
Carlo Tritta, 19, has been sentenced to 28 months in prison for grooming a 14-year-old girl he connected with on the gaming platform Roblox. The incident unfolded over 11 months, beginning with their virtual interaction during a game and escalating into a series of manipulative exchanges.
The teenager initially told Tritta she was 15, but later confirmed her actual age of 14 in December 2024. From the outset, Tritta, who was 18 when they first met, used flattery and gifts to build trust, eventually persuading her to share explicit images of herself. He also shifted their communication to messaging apps like WhatsApp and Snapchat, where he expressed affection and deepened their connection.
“The young girl in this case believed she was in a loving relationship, but it was built on coercion, control and abuse,” said Det Supt Rod Kenny of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary. “The offender’s primary goal was to obtain indecent images of her as a child.”
Tritta’s actions came to light in August 2025 when the girl’s mother discovered a message on her daughter’s phone. The mother later testified that her family had become “constantly on edge” at home, with the environment no longer feeling safe. The victim described feeling “trapped and upset,” even fearing to go downstairs at night because she thought Tritta might be waiting for her.
During his police bail, Tritta violated conditions by traveling 200 miles from Hampshire to the girl’s home twice. He broke the doorbell camera, entered the property, and attempted to convince her to withdraw her testimony. Additionally, he sent her two cards, urging her not to support the prosecution and falsely reporting her family to social services. He claimed her mother had drugs in the home.
At Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court, Judge Kieran Rankin noted: “It was clear to you very early on that she was under 16. Your behaviour has had a significant negative effect on [the girl] and her family.” Tritta admitted to making indecent images of a child, engaging in sexual communications, and compelling the girl to watch a sexual act. He also confessed to intimidating a witness and causing criminal damage.
Roblox’s response
A spokesperson for Roblox expressed sorrow over the case, stating the platform had introduced new age checks in January to restrict communications to users of similar ages or those already known. They emphasized that policies actively prevent child exploitation and include systems to limit chat for younger users. “Our teams work closely with law enforcement to support investigations,” the statement added. “While no system is perfect, we continue to strengthen protections daily.”
Karina Lyon of the Crown Prosecution Service highlighted Tritta’s predatory nature: “His actions, driven by sexual gratification, caused fear and anxiety for the victim and her family.” She noted his violations of bail terms and efforts to interfere with the legal process. The girl now attends therapy to cope with the stress of the ordeal.
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