Man Jailed for Grooming Girl Met on Roblox
A 19-year-old man, Carlo Tritta, has been sentenced to 28 months in prison for sexually grooming a 14-year-old girl he met on the online gaming platform Roblox. The court heard how Tritta, from Eastleigh, Hampshire, manipulated the teenager into sharing explicit content and engaging in sexual activities. His actions led to a significant emotional toll on the victim and her family, according to prosecutors.
Case Details
The abuse was uncovered in August 2025 when the girl’s mother discovered a message on her daughter’s phone. Tritta and the victim had connected through a game on Roblox 11 months earlier, with the teenager initially claiming to be 15 years old. She later confessed to being 14 in December 2024. During their online interactions, Tritta shifted conversations to messaging apps like WhatsApp and Snapchat, where he cultivated a romantic relationship with her.
“The young girl thought she was in a loving relationship, but it was based on coercion, control, and abuse,” said Det Supt Rod Kenny from Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary. “The offender’s primary goal was to obtain indecent images of her as a child.”
Tritta admitted to creating indecent images of a child, engaging in sexual communication, and compelling the girl to watch a sexual act. He also faced charges of intimidating witnesses and causing damage after twice traveling over 200 miles to her home. The court noted that Tritta broke a doorbell camera and entered the premises to confront the victim, despite being on police bail with strict conditions.
Impact on Family
The girl described feeling “trapped and upset,” with fear of going downstairs at night due to Tritta’s presence. Her mother stated the family had been “constantly on edge,” transforming their home into an unsafe environment. The victim now undergoes therapy to manage the stress and anxiety caused by the ordeal.
“His actions, driven by sexual gratification, have left the young victim and her family in fear,” said Karina Lyon of the Crown Prosecution Service. “Tritta is not only a sexual predator but also demonstrated troubling behavior by violating court orders and attempting to influence witnesses.”
Roblox’s Role
Roblox, a global gaming platform with over 40 million user-generated experiences, emphasized its safety measures in response to the case. A spokesperson noted the platform introduced new age verification systems in January to restrict communication between users of different age groups. These checks aim to prevent unsupervised interactions that could lead to exploitation. However, the case highlights ongoing challenges in safeguarding young users.
Tritta’s conduct included sending takeaway food and a secret phone to the girl’s home, further entrenching his control. During an interview, he acknowledged his knowledge of the girl’s age only after being under investigation. His attempts to undermine the prosecution extended to reporting the victim’s family to social services and falsely accusing her mother of having drugs in the house.
Following the sentencing at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court, Judge Kieran Rankin stated that Tritta’s behavior had “a significant negative effect” on the victim and her family. The case serves as a reminder of the risks associated with online interactions, particularly when users are unaware of the legal implications of their actions.
