Man Jailed After Grooming Girl He Met on Roblox

Carlo Tritta, 19, has received a 28-month sentence for grooming a 14-year-old girl he met on the online gaming platform Roblox. The teenager, from Greater Manchester, initially told Tritta she was 15 before confessing her true age in December 2024. During their interaction, which began 11 months earlier, Tritta repeatedly messaged her and pushed for explicit photos, eventually shifting their conversations to private apps like WhatsApp and Snapchat to deepen their connection.

Det Supt Rod Kenny of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary described the relationship as “built on coercion, control and abuse,” emphasizing how the girl believed she was in a loving bond. Tritta, from Eastleigh, Hampshire, admitted to creating indecent images of a child, engaging in sexual communications, and forcing the girl to observe a sexual act. His tactics included flattery, gifts, and rewards, all aimed at securing his desired content.

“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 Kenny. “His actions, for his own sexual gratification, have caused fear and anxiety for the young victim and her family,” added Karina Lyon of the Crown Prosecution Service.

Tritta’s behavior escalated when he ignored bail conditions, traveling over 200 miles to the girl’s home twice to confront her. He damaged the doorbell camera and broke into the house, while also sending her two cards—one requesting she not support the prosecution and another reporting her family to social services. He falsely accused her mother of having drugs in the home, further destabilizing the family.

During his police interview, Tritta acknowledged his actions were illegal once the investigation began. The girl testified she felt trapped and fearful, stating she “was scared of going downstairs at night” due to Tritta’s presence. Her mother described the household as “constantly on edge,” claiming the family “no longer feels like a safe space” and that her daughter now relies on therapy to cope with the stress.

Roblox, a major gaming platform with over 40 million user-created games, expressed sorrow over the case. A spokesperson noted the platform introduced new age checks in January to restrict communication between users of different ages. They highlighted their policies against child exploitation and safety measures to block unwanted image sharing and limit chats for younger players.

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