KATIE’S AGONY
Thug who scarred Strictly star for life in acid attack will be out of jail soon
KATIE Piper’s acid attacker will be freed from jail soon, dashing her hopes of keeping him behind bars.
The Parole Board decided Stefan Sylvestre, who left the Strictly star scarred for life, was no longer a danger, sparking fury.
Victims’ rights campaigner Harry Fletcher said: “This looks like another extraordinary
decision by the Parole Board.”
THE Parole Board last night came under fire after Katie Piper lost her desperate battle to keep her acid attacker in jail.
Despite leaving the Strictly star scarred for life, Stefan Sylvestre will be released from his life sentence after just nine years.
Katie, 34, had appeared at his parole hearing to warn the board she would be devastated if the thug is back on the streets.
But officials agreed he no longer posed a danger to the public and he is likely to be freed within weeks. It came despite recommendations from three experts that Sylvestre should be moved to an open prison before being considered for release.
The decision sparked fury. Campaign group Voice 4 Victims director Harry Fletcher said: “This looks like another extraordinary decision by the Parole Board.
“In cases like Katie’s involving violence, all victims will be extremely anxious and frightened about the release of attackers.
“It is essential the parole conditions offer total protection to the victim and further evidence must be provided by the Minister for Justice as to why the Parole Board thinks
that the public is safe from this offender. Unusually, Katie read out her own victim impact statement which shows her determination to keep him behind bars. Ordinarily a written statement is read out as it is a traumatic experience for victims to attend the hearing held in the prison.” In 2008, Sylvestre threw sulphuric acid at Katie in North London when she was 24 on the orders of her ex-boyfriend Daniel Lynch after she dumped him. The former model had 40 operations to treat her burns. She had to wear a plastic face mask and turned to alcohol as she battled depression. A judge at the trial of Lynch and Sylvestre branded them “the face of pure evil”. But during the parole hearing on July 16, the board was told how Sylvestre now “displayed empathy for the victim and expressed remorse and shame for his action” as well as “a desire to live a law-abiding life in the future”. The offender manager, offender supervisor and prison psychologist felt the 30-year-old
In violence cases, all victims will be anxious over release of attackers HARRY FLETCHER ON KATIE’S SYLVESTRE FEARS
would “benefit from a period in open conditions” before release. It was only a forensic psychologist, instructed by his legal team, who recommended release.
The offender manager felt that Sylvestre had “not always been open and honest and there were inconsistencies in his account of the index offence and his background”. The summary provided to the Mirror by the board chair said other concerns had been raised that his “future plans were unrealistic and it was not sure he would be able to lead a crimefree lifestyle and resist negative influences of his peers”. But it added: “The forensic psychologist told the panel there were factors which would protect him from returning to offending and a criminal lifestyle, including his improved relationship with his family.
“There was evidence that he had avoided negative influences in prison.
“He was not impulsive, he had good skills, self-control and was motivated to maintain the change that appeared to have taken place. He has not been involved in drugs in prison and has completed relevant offence-focused work to challenge and change his attitude and thinking.”
A Parole Board spokesman said: “We can confirm a panel of the board directed the release of Sylvestre following an oral hearing.
“Our decisions are solely focused on whether a prisoner would represent a significant risk to the public after release.
“The panel will have carefully looked at a whole range of evidence, including details of the original evidence and any evidence of behaviour change.
“We do that with great care and public safety is our number one priority.”
The MoJ said: “Our heartfelt sympathies are with Katie for the ordeal she has suffered. Acid attacks are abhorrent. Public protection is our priority and while we understand public concern, it is vital that we respect the independence of the Parole Board.”
Katie started training for the new series of Strictly this week. Last night her agent declined to comment on Sylvestre’s release.
He will be subject to a licence which bans him from contact with Katie and Lynch, who is also serving life in jail.
Mr Fletcher and the Mirror have been campaigning for a new law to give victims of crime more information about parole cases.