A mother whose daughter was groomed through the popular gaming platform Roblox has issued a stark warning to parents, urging them to closely monitor their children's online activities. This comes after her daughter's abuser, 19-year-old Carlo Tritta, was sentenced to 28 months in prison for a series of child sex offences.
Grooming Began on Roblox Platform
The disturbing case began in September 2024 when Tritta, described as 'calculating' by authorities, initiated contact with the girl, who was then 13 years old and is now 14. Their initial conversations took place on Roblox, a gaming platform the victim had been using since she was seven years old and which is the most frequently played game among eight to 12-year-olds in the United Kingdom.
Escalation to Explicit Content
After establishing initial contact through the gaming platform, Tritta moved their conversations to other messaging services. He systematically built the girl's trust over time until she believed they were in a genuine relationship. Once this emotional connection was established, he began encouraging her to send sexually explicit messages and content.
The girl's mother discovered the abuse in August 2024 after noticing her daughter had become increasingly depressed. Upon checking her daughter's phone, she uncovered the inappropriate communications. In an attempt to conceal their conversations from her parents, Tritta had even sent the Manchester schoolgirl an old mobile phone.
Continued Harassment After Discovery
Even after the mother reported Tritta to the police and an investigation was launched, the abuser continued his campaign of manipulation and intimidation. Tritta, who is from Eastleigh in Hampshire, persistently sent gifts and Moonpig cards to the victim.
One particularly disturbing printed message read: 'I know your mum saw the last one but you need to seriously think about this and if she sees this you need to think about this too.' He added: 'If this goes to court, this will likely end up on the news, that's both of our names ran through dirt for the whole world to see,' before signing off with 'I love you, C x.'
Travel and False Reports
The situation escalated further when Tritta traveled from his home in Hampshire to the victim's residence in Manchester on multiple occasions. In a particularly manipulative move, he called social services to report the girl's mother, and later told the victim he had contacted the police about her mother and brother 'for your protection.'
Legal Proceedings and Sentencing
In December 2024, Tritta was arrested for perverting the course of justice after attempting to pressure his victim into dropping the charges against him. He received a suspended sentence, but just three days later, he returned to the victim's family home, leading to his rearrest.
Today, Tritta was sentenced to 28 months in prison and placed on the sex offenders register for ten years. He pleaded guilty to multiple charges including sexual communication with a child, causing a child to watch a sexual act, making indecent images, two counts of witness intimidation, and criminal damage.
Mother's Warning to Parents
The victim's mother spoke exclusively to ITV News about the ordeal, emphasizing the hidden dangers of seemingly innocent gaming platforms. 'I just never thought anything of this game,' she said. 'Some parents think their child's playing it, they're online playing with their friends. But what you need to realise is there's also people... who are a lot older, who are on that game for one reason, and it's to groom.'
She added poignantly: 'If you asked me months ago, would I think something like this would happen? No, not to my child.' Her warning serves as a crucial reminder for all parents to remain vigilant about their children's online interactions, regardless of the platform's perceived safety or popularity.
