diff --git a/src/pact/_util.py b/src/pact/_util.py
index 56b29cc69..6dda413f5 100644
--- a/src/pact/_util.py
+++ b/src/pact/_util.py
@@ -109,8 +109,6 @@ def strftime_to_simple_date_format(python_format: str) -> str:
     Returns:
         The equivalent Java SimpleDateFormat format string.
     """
-    # Each Python format code is exactly two characters long, so we can
-    # safely iterate through the string.
     idx = 0
     result: str = ""
     escaped = False
@@ -121,13 +119,17 @@ def strftime_to_simple_date_format(python_format: str) -> str:
 
         if c == "%":
             c = python_format[idx]
+            # Increment another time to skip the second character of the
+            # Python format code.
+            idx += 1
+            if c == ":":
+                # This is a three character code.
+                c += python_format[idx]
+                idx += 1
             if escaped:
                 result += "'"
                 escaped = False
             result += format_code_to_java_format(c)
-            # Increment another time to skip the second character of the
-            # Python format code.
-            idx += 1
             continue
 
         if c == "'":
diff --git a/tests/test_util.py b/tests/test_util.py
index 370e36cf5..2043e1772 100644
--- a/tests/test_util.py
+++ b/tests/test_util.py
@@ -46,6 +46,10 @@ def test_convert_python_to_java_datetime_format_with_single_quote() -> None:
     assert strftime_to_simple_date_format("%Y'%m'%d") == "yyyy''MM''dd"
 
 
+def test_convert_python_to_java_datetime_format_with_utc_offset_with_colon() -> None:
+    assert strftime_to_simple_date_format("%:z") == "XXX"
+
+
 class Args(NamedTuple):
     """
     Named tuple to hold the arguments passed to a function.