Man jailed after grooming girl he met on Roblox

Teen Convicted for Grooming 14-Year-Old on Roblox Platform

Carlo Tritta, 19, has received a 28-month prison sentence after admitting to grooming a 14-year-old girl he met on the online gaming platform Roblox. The case revealed how the defendant manipulated the teenager into sharing explicit content and engaging in sexual conversations. Tritta, from Eastleigh, Hampshire, also confessed to causing the girl to witness a sexual act and to two counts of intimidating a witness, along with criminal damage. His actions began 11 months prior to the August 2025 incident when the girl’s mother discovered a message on her daughter’s phone.

The victim initially told Tritta she was 15 years old, later correcting her age in December 2024. During their interactions, Tritta, who was 18 at the start, used flattery and gifts to build trust. He encouraged her to switch communication to apps like WhatsApp and Snapchat, where he expressed affection. The relationship started with gaming but gradually shifted to more intimate exchanges. Tritta also sent takeaway food and a private phone to her home, deepening their connection.

“The young girl in this case believed she was in a loving relationship, but it was built on coercion, control, and abuse,” said Det Supt Rod Kenny of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary. “The offender’s main goal was to obtain indecent images of her as a child. He used flattery, gifts, and rewards to achieve this.”

Tritta was released on police bail with conditions to avoid contacting the girl or visiting her home. However, he violated these orders, traveling over 200 miles to confront her. He broke the doorbell camera and entered her house twice, attempting to pressure her into dropping the case. Additionally, he sent two letters to her mother, urging her not to support the prosecution and falsely accusing her of keeping drugs in the home.

The girl described feeling “trapped and upset,” with fear keeping her awake at night. She stated, “I was scared of going downstairs at night because I thought Tritta would be there.” Her mother added that the family had become “constantly on edge,” no longer feeling safe in their own home. The mother explained that her daughter now requires therapy to cope with the emotional impact of the abuse.

Karina Lyon of the Crown Prosecution Service highlighted Tritta’s predatory behavior, noting he “preyed on the young teenager” for sexual satisfaction. “His actions have caused fear and anxiety for the victim and her family,” Lyon said. “Not only is Tritta a sexual predator, but he also breached court orders, damaged property, and tried to interfere with witnesses.”

A Roblox spokesperson expressed concern over the incident, stating, “We are saddened to hear of this troubling case. With over 144 million daily active users, cases of harm are rare, but any such event is one too many. Our age verification system limits communication to users of similar ages and those already known, while policies prohibit child exploitation and include safeguards to prevent image sharing and block personal information disclosure.”

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