STRICTLY POSITIVE

Katie says dance training is helping her come to terms with acid thug’s release

BRAVE Katie Piper remained upbeat yesterday, despite news the thug who scarred her for life in an acid attack will soon be back on the streets.

The Strictly contestant said training for the BBC show was helping her to cope after Stefan Sylvestre, 30, was granted parole.

One campaigner urged Katie to fight the decision after it was suggested a defence team expert had too much influence.

Katie, 34, tweeted a picture of our front page yesterday alongside a message saying: “This is really difficult for me. I am trying to come to terms with the decision.

“Over the past 2 weeks Strictly has already given me a welcome and positive distraction from my past. Whilst there is never a good time to hear this news I am glad I have this new journey to concentrate on.”

Sylvestre has served nine years of his life sentence for throwing sulphuric acid in Katie’s face. Her ex-boyfriend Daniel Lynch, who ordered the 2008 attack in North London, was jailed for at least 16 years.

PAROLE

Katie, who needed 40 operations to treat her burns, appeared at Sylvestre’s parole hearing to ask the board not to release him.

Three experts also recommended he should be transferred to an open prison.

However, a forensic psychologist employed by Sylvestre’s defence team helped to convince the board he should be freed.

Harry Fletcher, of the Victims’ Rights Campaign, said Katie should consider a legal challenge. He added: “Questions need to be asked why so much weight was given to the forensic psychologist employed by the defence team, over the offender manager, offender supervisor and prison psychologist that had day-to-day contact with him.”

The Daily Mirror is calling for tighter controls over the sale of acid.