A convicted paedophile, who two days ago appeared in court on a rape charge, has committed suicide.

Brian Shofer was found hanging in his cell at the Lentegeur police station on Friday.

According to a police source, he is believed to have used a mattress lining to hang himself.

Police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Andre Traut confirmed that a man had been found dead and that the matter would be investigated by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate.

The 58-year-old, who offered private tutoring for children, was arrested this week for allegedly raping a boy between 2010 and 2016. The victim, who is now 18, was 12 when the accused allegedly first assaulted him.

Shofer was reportedly convicted of sexually abusing boys on the Cape Flats in the 1990s and also after being granted parole. He was released from jail in 2010 and was living in Mitchell’s Plain at the time of his arrest.

He also offered private tutoring on Gumtree for children struggling with their academics.

According to one of his posts, he claimed to be a “very experienced tutor who is available every day to help your child/children with their problem subjects”.