‘My daughter, 14, was groomed after meeting man on Roblox’
My Daughter, 14, Was Groomed After Meeting a Man on Roblox
A 14-year-old girl in Greater Manchester became the target of online grooming through a man she met on Roblox, according to her mother. Carlo Tritta, who was 18 at the time, initially connected with the teenager in September 2024. The mother described the situation as alarming, highlighting the platform’s failure to adequately protect young users.
The Grooming Process
Tritta, now 19 and from Eastleigh, Hampshire, manipulated the girl into believing they were in a romantic relationship. He began by engaging in casual conversations, which gradually turned into more intimate exchanges. The mother noted that the girl had been chatting with Tritta for an extended period without any signs of trouble at first.
“She’d started talking to this person on Roblox for so long, nothing sinister, chit chat,” the mother explained, emphasizing the gradual shift in the interaction.
As their relationship deepened, Tritta encouraged the girl to move their messages to other platforms. He sent her takeaways and a secret phone, creating a sense of closeness. The mother revealed that the girl’s behavior changed dramatically, leading to emotional distress and a sense of entrapment.
The Abuse Uncovered
The mother discovered the abuse when she noticed a message on her daughter’s phone. The girl pleaded with her not to look, but the mother insisted. “He was just at my kitchen door talking about nightmares while me and my daughter were just sat in the living room writing Christmas cards and watching Christmas TV,” she recalled.
“I was just shocked, bewildered, really angry,” the mother said. “Not with my daughter because I had to keep saying to her ‘I’m not angry with you’ but I couldn’t speak. ‘I don’t think your brain can take in what you’re seeing and obviously that’s your child.'”
Tritta had access to all aspects of the girl’s life, knowing her friends, her routines, and even who she traveled with. This control made it difficult for her to escape the situation, with the mother stating she felt her daughter was trapped and even contemplating suicide.
Roblox’s Response
Roblox, a global gaming platform with 40 million user-generated games, issued a statement acknowledging the case. The spokesperson expressed sadness over the incident, emphasizing the company’s commitment to safety measures. “With more than 144 million daily active users on Roblox, cases of harm are rare, but we know any incident of harm is one too many,” they said.
Roblox requires age verification for users to communicate, aiming to limit interactions to peers and known individuals. The platform has policies in place to prevent child exploitation, including systems to block image sharing and restrict chat for younger users. Despite these safeguards, Tritta managed to groom the girl before his arrest.
Legal Consequences
Tritta was sentenced to two years and four months in prison after admitting to making indecent images, engaging in sexual communications, and causing a child aged 13-15 to view explicit content. He also faced two counts of intimidating a witness and criminal damage. His actions included breaking the doorbell camera and entering the victim’s home after violating bail conditions.
“He also sent the victim two cards, asking her not to support the prosecution as well as reporting her family to the police and social services,” the mother added, underscoring the psychological impact of the abuse.
The mother now urges other parents to remain vigilant about their children’s online activities. “It’s dangerous – it needs to be watched,” she warned. “It’s a kids’ game, but adults are using it to groom children. They need to do something about it. It should just be for kids, not for adults to go on to groom.”
