Katie Piper says she’s ‘using meditation to stay calm’ as acid attacker released from prison

Katie Piper was the victim of an acid attack in 2008
Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images
Patrick Grafton-Green15 October 2018

Katie Piper has said she is “using meditation to stay calm” after the man who threw acid over her was released from prison.

Stefan Sylvestre, now 30, is understood to have been released from a jail in Suffolk on Wednesday. He had served nine years of a life sentence.

Katie Piper, who is taking part in this year’s Strictly Come Dancing, posted on Instagram on Saturday: “Thank you for all the messages, birthday wishes and encouragement for tonight, very kind of you all!

“Using mediation to stay calm and centred today. See you on the ballroom floor tonight.”

She posted the words alongside an image which had the quote: "Go within every day and find the inner strength so that the world will not blow your candle out."

Sylvestre, now 30, from Shepherd's Bush, west London, was given a life sentence in 2009 for the attack.

He was told he must serve a minimum of six years before he would be eligible for parole.

Piper suffered horrific injuries in the acid attack that left her permanently scarred.

Stefan Slyvestre threw acid on Katie Piper
PA

She was left fighting for her life after obsessive ex-boyfriend Daniel Lynch arranged for Sylvestre to throw the corrosive liquid in March 2008.

It was revealed in August that the Parole Board had directed the release of Sylvestre after the case was considered at an oral hearing.

Piper has previously said she was trying to come to terms with the decision, and that she was going through "a really difficult time".

The Parole Board's decision summary said Piper had read statements in person to the panel.

Katie Piper with her Strictly dance partner Gorka Marquez
PA

"The panel took full account of the content of these statements and the supporting documentation," the summary said.

The document added: "The panel considered that there were a number of things that reduced Mr Sylvestre's risk of causing serious harm in the future.

"Mr Sylvestre is now 30 years of age and was just 19 when he committed the index offence.

"He was drawn into a criminal lifestyle in his teens and was involved with drugs.

"During his time in custody, Mr Sylvestre has actively avoided anti-social behaviour within the prison and has avoided violence, despite being under threat.

"He has behaved well to distance himself from such influences."

The summary also said Sylvestre had "displayed empathy for the victim and expressed remorse and shame for his actions".

Lynch was jailed for life with a minimum of 16 years for sexually assaulting Piper and telling Sylvestre to throw acid over her.

The pair had dated briefly before steroid-fuelled martial arts fan Lynch, who had a previous conviction for pouring boiling water over a man, became obsessively jealous.

In court, Lynch and Sylvestre were told by Judge Nicholas Browne QC they were "the face of pure evil".

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