Michael P, the psychiatric patient charged with the rape and murder of Anne Faber earlier this month, was also attending evening classes at college, the Telegraaf said on Thursday.

P was following a course in gardening at the Wellant college in Houten, which was not aware that he was a convicted rapist, the paper said.

P was taking the lessons while he was being treated at a clinic in Den Dolder, which was preparing him for his return to society after completing his sentence for two violent rapes and several robberies.

On Wednesday the public prosecution department said P also faced charges of raping 27-year-old Anne Faber, who disappeared on a bike ride. Her route passed the clinic where P was living.

Her body was found two weeks later in a nature reserve after P told investigators where they could find her. He was identified from a dna match on her jacket which had been found in the grounds of a country estate.