Man jailed after grooming girl he met on Roblox

Man Jailed for Grooming Girl Met on Roblox

Carlo Tritta, 19, has been sentenced to 28 months in prison after admitting to grooming a 14-year-old girl he encountered on the online gaming platform Roblox. The victim, from Greater Manchester, initially claimed to be 15 before revealing her true age in December 2024. Tritta, based in Eastleigh, Hampshire, confessed to creating indecent images of a child, engaging in sexual communication with a minor, and compelling a child aged 13 to 15 to observe a sexual act.

“The young girl in this case thought she was in a loving relationship, though it was built on coercion, control, and abuse,” said Det Supt Rod Kenny of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary.

The incident came to light in August 2025 when the girl’s mother noticed a message on her daughter’s phone. Tritta first met the victim while playing a game on Roblox 11 months prior. Over time, their interactions shifted from casual gameplay to increasingly disturbing exchanges. He encouraged her to move conversations to messaging apps like WhatsApp and Snapchat, where he expressed affection, and even sent takeaway food and a private phone to her home.

During the trial at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court, Judge Kieran Rankin highlighted Tritta’s awareness of the girl’s age, stating: “It was clear to you very early on that she was under 16.” The judge emphasized the lasting impact of Tritta’s behavior, noting its detrimental effect on the victim and her family. Tritta had previously ignored strict conditions of his police bail, traveling 200 miles from Hampshire to the girl’s residence twice to confront her and attempt to weaken the case against him. He also damaged property, including the doorbell camera, and tried to influence witnesses by sending two letters.

“His actions, for his own sexual gratification, have caused fear and anxiety for the young victim and her family,” said Karina Lyon from the Crown Prosecution Service. “Not only is Tritta a sexual predator, but he has also exhibited deeply troubling behavior by visiting the girl’s address in breach of his bail and a court order, damaging property, and trying to interfere with witnesses.”

Roblox, which hosts over 40 million user-generated games, expressed sadness over the case. A spokesperson noted that the platform introduced new age checks in January to help limit interactions to users of similar age or known contacts. “Our policies firmly prohibit any form of child exploitation, and we have robust safety systems to prevent image sharing and restrict chats for younger users,” they added. “While no system is perfect, we continue to enhance our protections regularly.”

The victim described feeling “trapped and upset,” with fears of being alone at night due to Tritta’s presence. Her mother said the family had become “constantly on edge,” with their home no longer feeling like a safe place. The girl now attends therapy to manage the stress and anxiety from the ordeal.