Young girls being groomed on Roblox and forced into committing ‘unspeakable’ acts

Jul 25, 2026 · 7:59 AM UTC ·7 min read · 0 reactions · 0 comments · 16 views

#crime #online safety #grooming #technology #law enforcement

TL;DR · WeSearch summary

A network of teenage boys using platforms like Roblox, Discord and Telegram is grooming young girls and coercing them into self-harm and sexual exploitation. The groups, referred to as Com networks, are not covered by the UK government's proposed social media ban for under‑16s. Law enforcement agencies, including the National Crime Agency, are investigating a sharp rise in cases, with one offender sentenced to nearly five years in prison.

Key facts

▪Elijah Palmer lured a teenage girl from Roblox to Discord, forced her to self‑harm and produce sexual images, and threatened her with a fabricated bomb threat.
▪Com networks target vulnerable young girls to create sadomasochistic content, sharing it among members and seeking online clout.
▪The National Crime Agency reported a 2,900% increase in abuse reports since 2022 and is investigating around 200 cases involving these networks.
▪Palmer was sentenced to four years and nine months after pleading guilty to multiple offences, including encouraging serious self‑harm and producing indecent photographs of children.

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Original publisher	The Independent
Canonical URL	https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/roblox-discord-telegram-gangs-luring-young-girls-b3019424.html
Publication time	Sat, 25 Jul 2026 07:59:18 GMT
Retrieval time	2026-07-25T08:07:08.181Z
Last seen	2026-07-25T08:07:08.181Z
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Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand

NewsUKCrimeIn depth Young girls being groomed on Roblox and forced into committing ‘unspeakable’ actsSecret networks of sadistic teenage boys are luring their targets to Discord and Telegram. Neither platform is included in the government’s proposed social media ban for under 16s, as Nicole Wootton-Cane reportsSaturday 25 July 2026 08:59 BSTBookmarkBookmark popoverRemoved from bookmarksClose popover{"translations":{"comments":"Go to comments","share":"Share","copyLink":"Copy link","bookmark":"Bookmark","removeBookmark":"Remove bookmark"},"showComments":false,"showBookmark":true,"articleId":"b3019424","articleMeta":{"url":"https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/roblox-discord-telegram-gangs-luring-young-girls-b3019424.html","title":"Young girls being groomed on Roblox and forced into…

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