Katie Piper: ‘I’m terrified’. Living in fear her attacker will strike again
Katie Piper is struggling to cope with the prospect of her acid attacker being released from prison
She’s a TV personality, author and philanthropist, and she is currently waltzing her way through this year’s series of Strictly Come Dancing.
But, nearly 10 years ago, Katie’s life was flipped upside down when her ex-boyfriend, Daniel Lynch, sent someone to her home to throw acid in her face. The attack left her body scarred and resulted in her enduring over 100 operations.
Following the recent news that attacker Stefan Sylvestre has been granted parole from prison after serving nine years of his life sentence, it seems Katie is struggling to come to terms with it.
FRESH FEARS
‘This is a really difficult time for me. I am trying to come to terms with the decision,’ Katie said, following the news that her attacker was to be released. Her fears are something the 35-year-old arguably lives with every day. And, with Katie’s public profile having grown significantly over the years, and Strictly being recorded in the same place each week, it’s been revealed that she is ‘terrified’ he might just turn up. ‘A plan is being put in place to ensure he doesn’t get details of where she will be and what she is doing in relation to the show. She fears he will turn up to the Strictly studios or discover where she is,’ a TV insider said. ‘Strictly has discussed security with
‘Katie is terrified her attacker might just turn up’
Katie and she has voiced her worries. They told her that they will do all they can to ensure she is safe at all times.’ But despite security being put in place, Katie already has a bodyguard flanking her wherever she goes – the idea he might find her haunts
her and clearly has for quite some time.
A source tells us, 'It would be surprising if Katie wasn't concerned about his release. It would have any one of us worried every day.'
‘The two of them had taken so much from me, and now this man’s punishment might soon be over,’ Katie confessed in her autobiography. ‘I thought, “I’m the one with the life sentence. Not him. He can change his identity, change his name, get a new job, a partner, move on, but I can’t. I can’t pretend it didn’t happen because it’s all over my face”.’ Katie continued, ‘There’s nothing I can do! Nothing anyone can do. No-one’s going to listen to me and put them away forever until I become a news story: “Acid girl killed by attackers”.’ Such is her fear that Katie confessed she’d rather have been burned in a house fire or a car accident, saying, ‘At least a fire wouldn’t come after me again; at least a fire wouldn’t have a score to settle.’
THE WRONG MESSAGE?
The release of her attacker is playing heavily on her mind, as is Halloween – a time of year she feels very strongly about. ‘I’m fine with dressing up as a cat or a wizard. But the trend towards fake scars, blood and gore seems like a backward step. I’d like to teach our kids that it’s normal to be scarred, disfigured or disabled,’ the mum-of-two confessed. And, with Strictly’s muchanticipated Halloween special coming up, Katie will undoubtedly be worried about what they may have in store as, in the past, the show’s dancers have been styled with the scare factor in mind. Katie’s battle with anxiety and depression since the attack is well documented. ‘I live with anxiety and I still get depressed. Because you don’t go through life-changing things and just get better and it’s over – you learn to live with it,’ she confessed. But, has competing on Strictly been a welcome distraction for Katie?
‘Strictly has already given me such 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.’
‘I live with anxiety and still get depressed’