Man jailed after grooming girl he met on Roblox
Man jailed after grooming girl he met on Roblox
A 19-year-old man convicted of sexually coercing a 14-year-old girl through Roblox messaging faces 28 months in prison
Carlo Tritta, who is now 19, has been sentenced to 28 months in prison for grooming a 14-year-old girl he encountered on the online gaming platform Roblox. The court heard that Tritta, from Eastleigh, Hampshire, repeatedly messaged the teenager and persuaded her to share explicit images of herself. Det Supt Rod Kenny, of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary, emphasized that the victim, from Greater Manchester, believed she was in a relationship but was “under coercion, control and abuse.”
“The young girl thought she was in a loving relationship, but it was built on manipulation and exploitation,” said Det Supt Kenny.
Tritta admitted to creating indecent images of a child, engaging in sexual communications with a minor, and inducing a child aged 13-15 to watch a sexual act. He also pleaded guilty to intimidating a witness and damaging property after traveling hundreds of miles to the girl’s home twice to press her into dropping the case. Judge Kieran Rankin noted that Tritta understood the girl was under 16 early on, and his actions “had a significant negative impact on the girl and her family.”
The incident came to light in August 2025 when the girl’s mother discovered a message on her daughter’s phone. The pair had connected on Roblox 11 months prior, initially bonding over a game. Over time, their interactions shifted to more intimate exchanges, with Tritta using flattery and gifts to build trust. He even sent takeaway food and a private phone to her residence.
“He used a range of tactics, including gifts and rewards, to gain her confidence,” stated Karina Lyon from the Crown Prosecution Service.
Tritta, who was 18 when they first met, initially told the girl he was 15 before admitting his true age in December 2024. During police bail, he violated conditions by visiting her home, breaking the doorbell camera, and confronting her. He also sent her two letters, urging her to withdraw support from the prosecution and reporting her family to social services. In one, he falsely claimed her mother had drugs in the house.
Roblox, which hosts 40 million user-generated games globally, expressed regret over the case. A spokesperson noted that the platform had introduced new age checks in January to restrict communication with users of similar ages. They highlighted their policies against child exploitation and safety measures to limit chats for younger users. “While no system is perfect, we continue to strengthen protections daily,” they added.
The victim described feeling “trapped and upset,” with nightmares of Tritta being at her home at night. Her mother said the family now lives in constant unease, no longer feeling secure in their home. “She experiences fear and anxiety and attends therapy for the emotional toll,” the mother testified.
Following the sentencing, Tritta’s behavior has been labeled as predatory by prosecutors. “He not only targeted the girl for sexual gratification but also disregarded court orders, damaged property, and tried to undermine witnesses,” Lyon said.
Listen to BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. Share story ideas via WhatsApp at 0808 100 2230.