Man jailed after grooming girl he met on Roblox
Verdict and Sentence
A 19-year-old man has been sentenced to 28 months in prison for grooming a 14-year-old girl he encountered on the online gaming platform Roblox. Carlo Tritta, from Eastleigh, Hampshire, admitted to creating indecent images of a child, engaging in sexual communication with her, and persuading her to watch a sexual act. He also confessed to intimidating a witness and causing damage after twice traveling hundreds of miles to her home to try to sway her testimony.
“It was clear to you very early on that she was under 16,” stated Judge Kieran Rankin at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court. “Your behaviour has had a significant negative effect on [the girl] and her family.”
Case Background
The abuse was uncovered when the girl’s mother noticed a message on her daughter’s phone in August 2025. Tritta had met the victim 11 months earlier while playing a game on Roblox. Initially, the girl told Tritta she was 15, but she later confirmed her age as 14 in December 2024. Tritta, who was 18 when they first connected, shifted their conversations to messaging apps like WhatsApp and Snapchat, where he expressed affection.
He also sent her takeaway food and a private phone, tactics he used to build trust. The messages began as casual exchanges but gradually became more suggestive. The girl described feeling trapped and fearful, even avoiding going downstairs at night due to her belief that Tritta would be waiting.
“The young girl in this case thought she was in a loving relationship but it was founded in coercion, control and abuse,” said Det Supt Rod Kenny of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary. “The offender’s main driver was to obtain indecent images of her as a child. He used flattery, gifts, and rewards to achieve this.”
Impact on Family
The girl’s mother testified that the family had become “constantly on edge” at home, which no longer felt safe. She added that her daughter now experiences fear and anxiety, requiring therapy to cope with the stress. Tritta violated his bail conditions by visiting her house twice, breaking the doorbell camera to gain entry.
He also sent two cards to the girl, urging her not to support the prosecution, and reported her family to social services, falsely claiming drugs were present in the home. The Crown Prosecution Service highlighted that Tritta targeted the teenager for his own sexual gratification, describing him as both a predator and a perpetrator of troubling conduct.
Roblox’s Response
A Roblox spokesperson expressed sadness over the case, noting that the platform introduced new age checks in January to restrict interactions to users of similar ages or those already known. They emphasized that policies prohibit child exploitation and include safety measures to block image sharing and limit chats for younger users. The statement also mentioned collaboration with law enforcement to assist in investigations.
“While no system is perfect, we continue to evolve and strengthen our protections every day,” the spokesperson said. The case underscores the challenges of online interactions, particularly when users are not fully aware of each other’s ages.
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