Man jailed after grooming girl he met on Roblox
Man jailed after grooming girl he met on Roblox
Teenager’s ordeal exposed through digital communication
A 19-year-old man has received a 28-month prison sentence for coercing a 14-year-old girl he met on the virtual gaming platform Roblox. Carlo Tritta, from Eastleigh, Hampshire, admitted to producing indecent images of a child, engaging in sexual conversations with a minor, and compelling a girl aged 13 to 15 to observe a sexual act. His actions also included intimidating a witness and damaging property after he traveled multiple times to her home to pressure her into dropping the case.
“The young girl believed she was in a loving relationship, but it was built on manipulation, control, and abuse,” stated Det Supt Rod Kenny of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary. “The offender’s primary goal was to collect indecent images of her, using flattery and gifts to gain her trust.”
The incident began 11 months prior when Tritta and the girl first connected while playing a game on Roblox. Initially, their interaction revolved around the virtual experience, but the messages soon shifted to more intimate content. The victim had told Tritta she was 15 at first, later correcting her age to 14 in December 2024. Tritta encouraged her to transition their chats to WhatsApp and Snapchat, where he claimed to have deep affection for her.
The abuse was uncovered in August 2025 when the girl’s mother noticed a suspicious message on her daughter’s phone. Tritta had sent takeaway food and a private phone to her home, further blurring the lines between friendship and exploitation. Despite being released on bail with strict conditions, he violated them by traveling 200 miles from Hampshire to the girl’s residence twice, breaking the doorbell camera and entering her home.
“She felt trapped and upset, and was scared of going downstairs at night because she thought Tritta might be waiting for her,” the victim recounted in court. Her mother added that the family had become “constantly on edge,” describing their home as “no longer a safe space.”
According to Karina Lyon of the Crown Prosecution Service, Tritta targeted the teenager for his own sexual gratification, causing significant distress. The prosecution highlighted his attempts to interfere with witnesses and sabotage the case by sending her family letters, falsely accusing her mother of drug use, and threatening her. During his police interview, Tritta acknowledged his actions were illegal once he was under investigation.
Roblox responds to the case
A Roblox representative expressed sadness over the incident, noting that the platform had introduced new age verification measures in January to reduce interactions between users and minors. They emphasized their policies against child exploitation and safety features aimed at limiting chat activity for younger users. “While no system is perfect, we continue to enhance protections daily,” the spokesperson said.
During the trial at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court, Judge Kieran Rankin noted Tritta’s awareness of the girl’s age early on, stating his behavior had “a significant negative impact” on the victim and her family. The case underscores the challenges of digital relationships and the need for vigilance in online spaces.
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