Teenager Convicted for Grooming 14-Year-Old via Roblox

A 19-year-old man, Carlo Tritta, has been sentenced to 28 months in prison after being convicted of grooming a 14-year-old girl through the online gaming platform Roblox. The teenager, from Greater Manchester, initially claimed to be 15 before confirming her age as 14 in December 2024. Tritta, who was 18 when they first connected online, targeted her through repeated messages that gradually shifted from casual conversation to explicit requests.

Coercion and Control in the Relationship

Det Supt Rod Kenny of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary described the victim’s belief in a “loving relationship” as stemming from manipulation. “The offender’s main goal was to obtain indecent images of her as a child,” he added, highlighting tactics such as flattery and gifts to gain her trust.

“The young girl in this case thought she was in a loving relationship but it was founded in coercion, control and abuse.”

Tritta’s actions led to his arrest, followed by police bail with strict conditions prohibiting contact with the girl or visits to her home. Despite these restrictions, he ignored the orders, traveling 200 miles to her residence twice, damaging property, and breaching the doorbell camera. He also sent her two cards, attempting to sway her testimony and report her family to authorities.

Roblox’s Response to the Incident

A Roblox spokesperson expressed concern over the case, stating, “With more than 144 million daily active users, cases of harm are rare, but any incident is one too many.” The platform requires age verification to limit communications to similar-aged users or those already known, and enforces policies to block image sharing, restrict chats for minors, and prevent personal information leaks.

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

The abuse was uncovered in August 2025 when the girl’s mother noticed a message on her daughter’s phone. Tritta and the victim had met on Roblox 11 months earlier, where their interaction began with a game but soon evolved into a series of disturbing exchanges. The court emphasized the lasting impact of his conduct, with Judge Kieran Rankin noting, “Your behaviour has had a significant negative effect on [the girl] and her family.”

Roblox, which hosts over 40 million user-generated games, continues to implement safeguards to prevent such incidents, though the case underscores the need for ongoing vigilance in digital spaces. The girl’s mother’s discovery prompted the legal proceedings, resulting in Tritta’s conviction for sexual communications, indecent images, and criminal damage.