A former pastor who admitted having unlawful carnal knowledge of a girl 12 years ago is set to be released from prison.

Kevin Leon Goater, 66, was to be freed today after the courts sentenced him for the offence in May 2024.

Goater was 53 at the time of the offence against the girl, who was under the age of 14.

In March 2024, he pleaded guilty to a single count of the offence, which took place on an unknown date between December 2013 and December 2014.

The court heard how Goater took the victim’s hand and placed it on his genital area before having sexual intercourse with her.

The Ministry of Justice released a statement today after it had issued a public notice that was published in The Royal Gazette. The ministry incorrectly listed May 2026 as the time of Goater’s release.

A ministry spokesman added that “as the notice was issued publicly for the information of the wider community, a separate notification to schools was not required” and that “the victim was notified in advance”.

The court heard previously that in March 2022, the victim video-recorded the man talking about the incident and admitting he had “made a mistake”.

Once the recording was made, the victim reported it to police.

At the time of sentencing, in an impact statement read to the court on her behalf, the victim said that what Goater did to her “could never be forgotten and never be changed”.

She added: “He stole my innocence and victimised me.

“I was just a child, and he decided to molest me. He was a grown adult … He was someone who thought he knew God.

“I remember it like it was yesterday, I remember the pain I felt, the words that were said, crying my eyes out and running downstairs not knowing what to do.

“I get so emotional when I talk about it. I am stressing so much.”

The victim said she did not regret speaking up and was able to feel “grounded” that others might be protected by the man’s incarceration.

Goater had earlier denied a separate charge of intruding on the privacy of a woman — but the Crown did not pursue a prosecution, in light of his guilty plea for the other offence.

• On occasion The Royal Gazette may decide to not allow comments on a story that we deem may inflame sensitivities. As we are legally liable for any libellous or defamatory comments made on our website, this move is for our protection as well as that of our readers