Katie Piper’s rapist ex arranged for her to be drenched in acid could be freed from jail within weeks.

Daniel Lynch, 47, a former boyfriend-turned-stalker of the campaigner’s, was jailed fifteen years ago for getting Stefan Sylvestre, then 19, to throw sulphuric acid over her face in March 2008. The sickening attack left her blind in one eye.

A two-day parole hearing, in which argued that he was fit for release, began on Tuesday.

He was jailed for life with a minimum term of 16 years in May 2009 at London’s Wood Green crown court for the rape of Piper and for telling Sylvestre to throw acid on her.

The hearing looked at whether he was fit for release or move to open prison conditions. A decision is expected within the next few weeks.

If he is still deemed to present a danger he will remain where he is.

Ms Piper, 40, has previously spoken of her fears at the prospect of his release.

In June last year, Katie said Lynch’s release was on her mind. She said: “I’m 40 this year. Am I going to die in the next ten years? I don’t actually know. The people that attacked me will be released. Are they going to kill me? I’m not sure.”

Sylvestre was given a sentence with a minimum term of six years in 2009 and released on licence in 2018.

In 2022, he was recalled to prison for breaching his licence conditions, with police issuing an arrest warrant after it was thought he had left the UK.

He is still on the run nearly two years later, meaning both men could soon be out.

Lynch, who had a previous conviction for pouring boiling water over a man, became obsessively jealous after dating her only briefly for two weeks, in which he became increasingly possessive and controlling.

When she ended the relationship, he violently raped her in a hotel room, where she was held hostage for eight hours.

He continued to bombard her with phone calls and was on the phone to her as she walked down a street in Golders Green, north London, when Sylvestre threw sulphuric acid in her face.

After the trial, Ms Piper waived her right to anonymity as a rape victim and she went on to found the Katie Piper Foundation to support burns victims.

Lucy Hadley, Head of Policy at Women’s Aid, of which Katie is an ambassador said it would be traumatic for her.

She said: “Women’s Aid stands in solidarity with our Ambassador Katie and with all the other many women who have to deal with the trauma of parole hearings.

“Parole hearings can be a significant source of fear and trauma for women and children who have experienced violence and abuse.

“The nature of male violence against women means that perpetrators can often pose a lifelong threat to survivors, and so when the possibility of them being released from custody by a parole board is there, the physical safety and mental wellbeing of survivors is put at risk.

“Recent reports into the performance of the probation service, such as the inquest into the murder of Zara Aleena, as well as concerns over the decision made by parole boards, have highlighted the failings of the criminal justice system to adequately protect survivors from harm, and have severely damaged women’s confidence in the system to protect them.

“It is important that those sitting on parole boards are properly trained on the nature and impact of violence against women and girls, so that they understand the lifelong risks that perpetrators pose to survivors and the long-lasting trauma that they have to live with.”