The man who hurled acid on television presenter Katie Piper has been released from prison.

Stefan Sylvestre, 30, was given a life sentence with a minimum term of six years in 2009 for the attack on the current Strictly Come Dancing contestant.

It is understood he was released from a jail in Suffolk on Wednesday.

Piper, 35, suffered horrific injuries and was left partially blind after her ex-boyfriend Daniel Lynch arranged for Sylvestre to throw sulphuric acid at her face in north London in March 2008.

Image: Piper suffered horrific injuries in the 2008 attack

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


At the time, Piper issued a statement saying she was going through "a really difficult time".

"I am trying to come to terms with the decision and this is something I need to deal with," she tweeted.

"Over the past two weeks 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."

A source told The Sun newspaper that Sylvestre's licence conditions include an exclusion zone barring him from an area around Piper's address, but he has been allowed to return to London.

She has also reportedly been given extra security by Strictly bosses during her work on the BBC1 show.

In the summary of its decision to release Sylvestre, the Parole Board said he had "displayed empathy" for Piper and "expressed remorse and shame for his actions".

Image: Piper alongside fellow Strictly contestant Joe Sugg

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

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

"He has not been involved in drugs in prison and has completed relevant offence-focused work to challenge and change his attitude and thinking."

Sylvestre became eligible to be considered for release in April 2014 and had a previous review by the Parole Board in 2015.

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

Image: Daniel Lynch was jailed for life over the attack on Piper

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".

Piper, who waived her right to anonymity, shared her story about surviving the attack in the documentary Katie: My Beautiful Face.

She is due to perform the jive on Strictly with her dance partner Gorka Marquez on Saturday night's show.