May 2009 GRAVESEND: Salvation Army member jailed for sex offences A 44-YEAR-OLD member of the Salvation Army has been sentenced to seven years in jail for committing sex offences involving a teenage girl. Carl Shelton, 44, of Thong Lane, Gravesend, was sentenced today (May 5) at Maidstone Crown Court. Shelton had been found guilty in March of two offences of indecent assault, one of gross indecency with a child and two of engaging in sexual activity with a child. He had been found not guilty on two further offences of indecent assault. Sentencing Shelton, Judge Charles Macdonald said the relationship had been described as consensual but the victim was under 16 and vulnerable to a mature adult. The judge added: “It is why the Americans call this type of offence statutory rape.” Shelton was made subject to a sexual offences prevention order banning him from working with children under the age of 16 for 15 years. He was also placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for life.