Katie Piper has described the 'life sentence' she was given when she was scarred for life in an acid attack, as she pleads for tougher sentencing laws.

In a moving open letter Ms Piper, 33, talked about the nine years it has taken her to get used to her scars and the hundreds of operations she has needed to live a normal life.

Her letter, published in the medical journal Scars, Burns & Healing, comes after a gang of moped thieves sprayed acid in the faces of up to five takeaway delivery men during a 72 minute crime spree across east London last night.

In a moving open letter Ms Piper talked about the nine years it has taken her to get get used to her scars and the hundreds of operations she has needed. Ms Piper is pictured left today and right in 2009, a year after the attack

The campaigner (pictured with husband James Sutton) is now arguing for longer prison sentences for people who use acid in attacks

In March 2008, when she was 24 years old, Danny Lynch, a man she had been dating, arranged for an accomplice to throw sulphuric acid the aspiring model's face.

The attack left Ms Piper partially blinded, with severe and permanent scarring to her face, chest, neck, arm and hands.

She said she 'couldn’t recognise' herself and, after waking from a coma, 'wanted to commit suicide'.

Since undergoing more than 250 operations, Ms Piper has built a career as a TV personality and has appeared in a series of documentaries

In her open letter Ms Piper, who is pregant, talked about how fearful survivors are that their attackers will only serve short sentences

Ms Piper appeared in documentary 'My Beautiful Friends', which followed her progress after the horrific acid attack and set up a charity to help others living with disfigurement

'Since the attack I have undergone over 250 operations to improve my physical functioning', said Ms Piper.

'As well as hours of psychological therapy to help me to deal with the trauma of the attack and to accept my ‘new face’. I will continue to need operations and therapy for life.'

The pregnant campaigner is now arguing for longer prison sentences for people who use acid in attacks.

In March 2008, Danny Lynch, a man she had been dating, arranged for an accomplice to throw sulphuric acid in Ms Piper's face. The attack left Ms Piper (pictured left and right) partially blinded, with severe and permanent scarring to her face, chest, neck, arm and hands

Ms Piper (pictured left before the attack) has set up a charity to help hundreds of burn victims

She said: 'At present, it is all too easy for someone to buy a corrosive substance and throw it, sometimes from a distance, at another person.

'It is vital that we do everything we can to halt these types of attack.

'The current legislation does not always recognise the severity of the offence and, therefore, the sentencing does not reflect the severity of the crime in some cases.

'Tougher sentencing would surely act as a deterrent to further attacks.'

Since undergoing more than 250 operations, Ms Piper has built a career as a TV personality and has appeared in a series of documentaries.

In her open letter, Ms Piper (pictured shortly after the attack) talks about how she contemplated suicide and how fearful survivors are

She has since found love with James Sutton, who she married in 2015 and with whom she has a daughter, Belle Elizabeth.

Ms Piper, has set up a charity to help hundreds of burn victims. Helped by Simon Cowell as well as the doctor who gave her her face back, the Katie Piper Foundation offers medical treatment and support.

In her open letter she talked about how fearful survivors are that their attackers will only serve short sentences.

She said: 'Survivors of such attacks often have to live with the immediate fear that their attackers may still be at large, and in the longer term—even if the attackers are caught and sentenced—may be released to potentially live alongside them after serving a minimum term.

'I meet many inspiring individuals who have worked hard to rebuild their lives after an attack; however, it can be hard to stay motivated when the justice system does not always reflect the severity of these crimes.'