Jeffrey Epstein received court papers over 2002 rape claim a day before he was found injured

Billionaire sex offender Jeffrey Epstein had been served with court papers accusing him of raping a 15-year-old girl the day before he was found semi-conscious in his prison cell, it was reported today.

The financier, 66, is currently being held in custody in Manhattan as he faces sex trafficking charges involving underage girls. He was discovered injured in his cell last Wednesday and authorities have not ruled out a suicide attempt or assault.

It emerged today that Epstein had been served with court papers the previous day, accusing him of raping Jennifer Araoz when she was 15.

Ms Araoz, now 32, claims the attack happened in 2002 when she was an aspiring actress. In the lawsuit for damages she said Epstein, over the course of a year, manipulated her into giving him massages and then initiated sexual contact. Ms Araoz claims the affair ended when he “forcibly raped” her.

She claims she dropped out of school to avoid him and is seeking compensation for emotional injuries.

Epstein, who was friends with Prince Andrew in the Nineties and has high-profile connections including President Trump, was a well-connected and known face among New York’s elite.

In 2008, he was convicted of soliciting a prostitute and procuring an underage girl for prostitution, leading to a 13-month prison sentence.

More than 30 other alleged victims had also been identified by the FBI but Epstein was offered a plea deal which involved accepting just two charges and he was given work-release from prison during his sentence.

Fresh allegations emerged this year and Epstein was arrested this month in New Jersey on sex trafficking charges.

He asked to be able to stay at his $77 million (£63 million) mansion on Manhattan’s Upper East Side but US District Judge Richard Berman said there is evidence that Epstein poses a danger to the public if released.

“Epstein’s alleged excessive attraction to sexual conduct with or in the presence of minor girls appears likely to be uncontrollable,” he said in a written ruling.

Epstein has denied the charges against him, which date back to between 2002 to 2005. He is due to stand trial.