Katie Piper's Acid Attacker May Be Freed Next Month

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TV star responds on Instagram to possible parole for Sylvestre, who lived in W12

Katie Piper has responded to news that the man who attacked her with acid could soon be freed by posting a powerful message of hope on Instagram.

The Parole Board said on Friday that a panel is expected to make a decision in "the coming weeks" over Stefan Sylvestre, who lived in Shepherd's Bush.

He has has spent nine years in jail after receiving a life sentence.

Katie, 34, who is taking part in the upcoming series of Srictly Come Dancing was a model and aspiring TV presenter before being attacked with sulphuric acid by Sylvestre ten years ago on the orders of an obsessed former boyfriend.

The attack left her Sylvestre left Piper partially blind, with severe scarring to much of her body. She was treated at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital staff burns unit, where they saved her life and rebuilt her face. She went on to make TV programmes about her ordeal for Channel 4 and set up a foundation to help other burns victims.

On hearing that her attacker may soon be given parole, she turned to her Instagram account where she published the messageL 'When the world says, ‘give up’, hope whispers, ‘try it one more time’."

Daniel Lynch, who was also from Shepherd's Bush, was an obsessed fan who had a brief relationship with Katie before raping her and ordering Sylvestre to attack her with acid in 2008.

After a trial the following year, Lynch, 33 was jailed for life with a minimum of 16 years at the age of 33.

Sylvestre, then 20, received life with a minimum of six years.

Both men admitted GBH.

A Parole Board spokeswoman said: "We can confirm that a panel of the Parole Board has considered the parole review for Stefan Sylvestre and expect to receive the panel's decision in the coming weeks.

"We are unable to comment further on the individual details of this case."

August 20, 2018