Rapist behind acid attack on Katie Piper in bid for parole
THE stalker who arranged for acid to be thrown in the face of TV star Katie Piper could be freed by parole chiefs.
Daniel Lynch, 47, was jailed for life in 2009 for organising the horrific attack which scarred her for life.
The rapist faces a two-day hearing from July 23 where they will assess the risk he faces if he was to be released.
The Loose Women star was 24 in March 2008 when her ex-partner Lynch plotted the acid attack which left her face severely burned. He was sentenced to life in prison in 2009 after being found guilty of rape and inflicting grievous bodily harm (GBH) and admitting inflicting actual bodily harm.
Stefan Sylvestre, then 19, who threw the acid, was given life after admitting GBH and was released in 2018. He fled and breached his conditions in 2022 and is still at large amid fears organised criminals are hiding him abroad.
Former Metropolitan Police detective Peter Bleksley said: “There is absolutely no justice for the poor victim in this case. How many times have we heard the words ‘life should mean life’ but then it comes to nothing.
He added: “There will be underworld criminals who have knowledge of his whereabouts. A priority should be finding him... every effort should be made in bringing him back.”
A source said: “Katie has had this hanging over here since 2009. It is an awful situation. The idea Lynch could soon be out is horrendous.”
After she ended their relationship, Lynch bombarded her with phone calls. He was on the phone to her as she walked down a street in Golders Green, north London, when Sylvestre threw sulphuric acid in her face.
In June last year, Piper said: “The people that attacked me will be released. Are they going to kill me? I’m not sure.”