A mother has issued a devastating warning to all parents after revealing how a convicted paedophile used the popular online game Roblox to befriend and then rape her young daughter.
The horrific case, which has sent shockwaves through the parenting community, highlights the grave and often hidden dangers children face on seemingly innocent gaming platforms.
The predator, identified as 39-year-old Richard Burgess from Cornwall, initially contacted the young girl through the game's chat function. Posing as another child, he gradually built her trust before manipulating her into moving their conversations to a private messaging app.
From Virtual Gaming to Real-World Trauma
What began as innocent gameplay quickly escalated into a nightmare scenario. Burgess, who was already on the sex offenders register for previous crimes, meticulously groomed his victim over time.
The situation culminated in the unthinkable: Burgess arranged to meet the young girl in person and sexually assaulted her. The devastating crime has left the family traumatised and pleading for greater online safety measures.
A Mother's Heartbreaking Plea
The victim's mother, who wishes to remain anonymous to protect her daughter's identity, spoke out about the incident to prevent other families from experiencing similar trauma.
"We thought Roblox was safe because it's meant to be for children," she explained. "You never imagine that someone could use a game like this to cause such harm. I want every parent to understand that these dangers are real and that they need to be vigilant about their children's online interactions."
Legal Consequences and Ongoing Concerns
Richard Burgess has been convicted for his crimes and is now facing a substantial prison sentence. However, the case raises serious questions about the effectiveness of safety measures on gaming platforms popular with children.
Child protection experts are urging gaming companies to strengthen their safeguarding protocols and for parents to maintain open conversations with children about online safety.
The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) emphasised: "This tragic case demonstrates why tech companies must prioritise child protection through robust safety features and why parents need to be aware of what their children are doing online."
