Daniel Lynch, who arranged for model and TV personality Katie Piper to be attacked with acid, has been refused parole. Lynch was convicted in 2008 of arranging for Stefan Sylvestre to throw sulphuric acid at Katie Piper's face in March 2008, leaving her blind in one eye, and his anticipated parole hearing terrified Katie Piper with the prospect of him being released. The Parole Board panel considered a large dossier of written evidence and received oral evidence over two full days.
It noted that Lynch had been involved in a dreadful attack with the use of life-threatening sulphuric acid against the victim, and considered his actions to be clearly an act of revenge. The panel concluded that Lynch does not yet have the necessary controls to manage his emotions and direct his thinking skills in relationships, and was not satisfied that release at this point would be safe for the protection of the public. Lynch has spent a little over 18 years in prison and has undertaken some work to address his risk factors, but there remains a need for him to complete more work.
He has accepted that he is not yet ready to be released, and will be eligible for another parole review in due course. Lynch had a previous conviction for pouring boiling water over a man and became obsessively jealous after briefly dating Katie Piper before the attack. The attack left Piper with serious injuries and permanent scarring, and she has had hundreds of surgeries to repair damage to her face and eyesight.
Judge Nicholas Browne KC told Lynch and Stefan Sylvestre that they had planned and then executed an act of pure, calculated and deliberate evil. Later in the hearing, the Parole Board panel noted that Lynch attempted to distance himself from the admissions he had made. The case was considered at an oral hearing, and Sylvestre is on the run.