MARTIN HERZOG FROM CARSHALTON AND PURLEY JAILED FOR CYBER SEX WITH CHILDREN IN LONDON

In a disturbing case that has shocked the communities of Carshalton and Purley, a 25-year-old man named Martin Herzog has been sentenced to prison for his involvement in heinous online activities targeting minors. Herzog, who was employed as an IT assistant at The John Fisher School in Purley, was found to have engaged in a series of disturbing cyber interactions with young girls, some as young as 11 years old.

Herzog, who resided in Arlington Drive, Carshalton, adopted the alias “Sandra” on various internet chat rooms, claiming to be only 15 years old. Under this false identity, he coerced and pressured young girls into performing sexual acts in front of webcams, creating a deeply troubling scenario of online exploitation. His actions were part of a pattern of predatory behavior that spanned over a year, from January 2009 to September 2010.

When police executed a raid on Herzog’s home in September 2010, they uncovered a trove of over 4,500 images of child pornography stored on his computer. Among these were more than 100 images classified as the most graphic, including content that depicted sadism and bestiality, highlighting the severity of his offenses. The police investigation revealed that Herzog had also planned to distribute over 2,000 of these images through file-sharing networks, further emphasizing his intent to disseminate this material.

Herzog’s arrest followed his guilty plea to multiple charges, including inciting underage girls—one of whom was under 13—to engage in sexual activities online. He also admitted to five counts of making indecent images of a child and five counts of possessing indecent images with the intent to share them. During police interviews, Herzog claimed that his presence in chat rooms was motivated by a desire to ‘protect the girls from men who might abuse them,’ a statement that was met with skepticism given the evidence.

At Southwark Crown Court, Judge John Price delivered a stern sentence, condemning Herzog’s actions. The judge stated, “When speaking to this 11-year-old, he, the defendant, pressures her into sexual activity. But this is not in person; this is in the cyber sex form. He did not meet the girls but he did get them to do things and he watched them. I believe that you did this for your own satisfaction, and I reject the idea that you were doing this to protect the girls. It was for your own sexual gratification.”

Judge Price also described the images as “totally and utterly repugnant images of real children being abused,” underscoring the gravity of Herzog’s crimes. Herzog was sentenced to a term of imprisonment, reflecting the serious nature of his offenses.

Mark Scully, the headteacher of The John Fisher School, issued a statement clarifying the situation. He explained that Herzog, who was employed as an ICT assistant technician until his arrest, had minimal contact with pupils during his duties. The school confirmed that Herzog’s conviction was entirely unrelated to his employment and assured that their ICT systems are secure. Herzog has been dismissed from his position following his conviction.

In closing, Scully expressed the school’s sympathies for the victims, stating, “All victims of child abuse remain in our thoughts and prayers,” emphasizing the ongoing concern and support for those affected by such heinous crimes.