THE international head of an evangelical church has flown to Perth this week to apologise to a victim for the “disgraceful and disgusting” sexual abuse she suffered at the hands of a local pastor.

Reverend Peter de Fin, the international director of South African-based Acts Christian Church, told The Sunday Times he was shocked by Dawid Volmer’s actions and “cannot make excuses for a minister of the gospel who should have known better”.

Volmer, better known as David Volmer, pleaded guilty last week to 12 charges of raping, molesting and drugging an underage girl.

The 41-year-old married father of two set up the Acts Christian Church in Carramar, and until recently, headed WA’s Prison Fellowship Program — a religious outreach scheme targeting inmates.

Rev. de Fin said Volmer had “betrayed the trust” that people place in a minister, offered no excuses and asked the victim and her loved ones to forgive the church for “failing” her.

In a statement, Rev. de Fin said: “The allegations, to which Pastor Volmer has confessed, are a betrayal of the trust that the people place in a minister of the church.

“We offer no excuses for such disgraceful and disgusting behaviour,” he said.

“We will never condone any form of immoral sexual behaviour, including sex with a minor, sex slavery, prostitution (including child prostitution) and any other exploitation of human beings.”

He asked the victim and her loved ones to accept the church’s regret and “forgive us for failing you”.

Rev. de Fin said Volmer, his wife and children were also in the church’s prayers and that he also flew to Perth to “deal with issues in the church”.

Volmer’s offences are part of an ongoing police investigation. He will face court again next month.