Man Sentenced to Prison for Grooming Teenager Through Roblox Platform
A 19-year-old man has been handed a 28-month prison sentence after grooming a 14-year-old girl through the popular online gaming platform Roblox. Carlo Tritta, from Bishopstoke in Eastleigh, engaged in a prolonged campaign of manipulation and harassment that escalated to sending birthday cards via Moonpig.com, urging the victim to drop the criminal case against him.
Disturbing Timeline of Grooming and Harassment
Tritta initiated contact with the teenage girl in September 2024 through Roblox, where he quickly moved their conversations to other messaging platforms. According to Hampshire Police, he led the girl to believe they were in a relationship, employing tactics such as sending gifts, ordering takeaways, and bombarding her with calls and messages in what authorities describe as "love-bombing."
When the girl's mother discovered the inappropriate relationship in August 2025, she immediately contacted law enforcement. Tritta was arrested and released on bail with strict conditions prohibiting any contact with the victim or her mother. Police seized his mobile phone and launched a comprehensive investigation into its contents.
Escalating Campaign of Intimidation
Despite his bail conditions, Tritta continued his harassment campaign by contacting the girl's friends through social media, repeatedly calling and texting the victim, and sending two cards via Moonpig.com that explicitly encouraged her to "drop the case." His behavior grew increasingly brazen when he reported the girl's mother to child services and attempted to have the investigating police officer removed from the case.
The situation reached a critical point on September 5, 2025, when Tritta traveled to the victim's home in Manchester and entered through the back door. When the girl discovered him in her house, she demanded he leave. Although he initially complied, he returned ten minutes later, pressuring her for her new phone number. To remove him from the premises, the girl agreed to accompany him to a local pub.
Further Confrontations and Legal Proceedings
The following morning, the girl's mother spotted Tritta hiding behind a garage near their home. After confronting him, she contacted police, leading to his arrest. Tritta was charged with perverting the course of justice, to which he pleaded guilty, receiving a 12-month suspended sentence on December 11, 2025.
Just three days later, Tritta returned to Manchester and entered the victim's home again, where he confronted both the girl and her mother before damaging a CCTV camera. This resulted in additional charges of intimidating a witness and criminal damage.
Comprehensive Charges and Final Sentencing
Based on evidence recovered from his seized phone, Tritta faced further serious charges including three counts of making indecent images of a child, engaging in sexual communications with a child, and causing a child aged 13-15 to watch or look at a sexual image.
At Stockport Magistrates' Court on December 16, 2025, Tritta pleaded guilty to all charges. He was remanded in custody until his sentencing at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court on April 9, 2026, where he received a 28-month prison sentence.
Police Warning About Online Dangers
Detective Constable Jodi Bartlett, who led the investigation, emphasized the serious implications of this case: "Tritta's behavior reveals the terrifying realities of how criminals exploit the online world to target vulnerable individuals. Gaming platforms should be safe spaces, especially for children, but the anonymity of the internet allows dangerous predators like Tritta to operate."
Detective Superintendent Rod Kenny, head of Child Abuse and Safeguarding for Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary, praised the victim and her mother for their courage: "It is common for abusers to create feelings of fear and shame to prevent victims from seeking help. This young girl placed her trust in officers, enabling us to secure justice."
Essential Safety Advice for Parents
Police authorities have issued crucial guidance for parents concerned about online safety:
- Initiate conversations with your children about online sexual abuse and listen carefully to their concerns
- Establish clear ground rules about technology use within your family
- Educate yourself about the platforms and applications your children frequently use
- Familiarize yourself with available tools, apps, and settings that enhance online safety
Detective Superintendent Kenny added: "Parents face significant challenges protecting children from growing online threats. Being inquisitive and informed about potential risks is essential. If you have concerns about online abuse, report them to police by calling 101, where you can speak confidentially."
