‘My daughter, 14, was groomed after meeting man on Roblox’

My Daughter, 14, Was Groomed After Meeting Man on Roblox

A parent from Greater Manchester expressed concern over the online gaming platform Roblox, claiming it wasn’t taking sufficient steps to shield young users from harm. Her 14-year-old daughter had been manipulated by Carlo Tritta, a 19-year-old from Eastleigh, Hampshire, into sharing intimate images with him after they connected in September 2024. Tritta, then 18, initially lured the teenager into believing they were in a romantic relationship.

Tritta’s actions escalated when he persuaded the victim to switch their communication to other apps, where he began sending her personal items and even provided her with a private phone. The mother discovered the situation when she noticed a suspicious message on her daughter’s device, prompting her to intervene. “I said ‘Oh, who’s that?’ and she was crying, begging me not to look at her phone,” she recounted. “That’s when I realized it wasn’t just casual chat—it was something much worse.”

“I just knew then that’s not her and I needed to see what was on this phone. There were a lot of sexual images, videos, really bad ones,” the mother added. She described how Tritta had taken control of her daughter’s online world, knowing her routines, friends, and even the bus route she used to get home. “He controlled everything she did and who she could talk to,” she said, emphasizing the girl’s feelings of being trapped and hopeless.

Tritta was later jailed for two years and four months after appearing at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court. He admitted to creating indecent images, engaging in sexual conversations with a child, and forcing her to view explicit content. Additionally, he confessed to intimidating witnesses and causing damage. The abuse was exposed when the mother broke her daughter’s phone to uncover the evidence.

Roblox, which hosts over 40 million user-created games, stated it was “saddened to hear of this troubling case” and committed to improving safety measures. A spokesperson noted that age checks are required for communication, aiming to connect users with similar ages or known contacts. “We have systems to block image sharing, limit chat for younger users, and prevent exploitation,” they said. However, the mother argued these safeguards were insufficient, warning other parents about the risks of online platforms being used for grooming.

“It’s dangerous—needs to be watched,” she insisted. “It’s a kids’ game, but adults are using it to groom children. They should do more to protect young users.” Tritta’s actions included sending her two cards, urging her to oppose the prosecution and reporting her family to authorities. He also traveled 200 miles from Hampshire to her home, bypassing his bail conditions by disabling the doorbell camera and entering the house unnoticed.

“He was just at my kitchen door talking about nightmares while me and my daughter were in the living room writing Christmas cards and watching TV,” the mother described. “She was trapped in a situation she didn’t think she could escape.”