Disfigured Model; Katie Piper's Face Splashed with Sulphuric Acid

Katie Piper began a career in modelling when she was in her late teens. She took part in various fashion, glamor and promotional photo shoots in her budding career, including modelling for national newspapers.

Katie before the attack

Piper also entered numerous competitive beauty pageants and contests; she was the 2nd runner-up in the Miss Winchester 2006 beauty pageant, and took part in numerous other publicity contests during 2006.

Piper was working hard as a promotional model– appearing and carrying out publicity duties at live events, such as working as a ring-card girl at martial arts fixtures.  It was through her work as a ring-girl that she became known in the Ultimate Fighting community.

In 2008 Daniel Lynch, was a martial arts fan who had been tracking Piper's media and modelling career. He met her through the online social site Facebook. Unknown to Katie at the time, Lynch had previously been jailed for throwing boiling water into a man's face.

Two weeks into their relationship, the couple booked a hotel after having dinner. In the hotel room, Lynch raped and beat Piper, threatened to cut her with a razor and hang her. He also stabbed her several times in the arms, causing Piper to seek medical help the next day.  After eight hours in the hotel room, they drove back to Piper's flat. Piper was treated for her wounds at her local hospital but withheld the nature of the incident from the doctors and police, because she was afraid of Lynch.

Disfigured Face, Facial Surgery, and Starting Over.

Katie recovering from the attack

Piper then began receiving numerous phone calls and apologies from Lynch. Two days after the initial attack, Lynch persuaded Piper to go to an internet cafe to read an email he had sent to her Facebook account. It was part of a plot to ruin Katie for life. Lynch hired Stefan Sylvestre to wear a hoodie in effort hide his identity and approach Katie on the street.

Stefan Sylvestre spotted Katie standing on the street and and he quickly approached her and doused her face with sulfuric acid.

The attack was caught on video and both Lynch and Sylvestre were promptly arrested. Lynch received two life sentences, and will serve a minimum of 16 years. Sylvestre received a life sentence, and will serve a minimum of 12 years.

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Katie underwent an innovative skin graft treatment. She received multiple laser treatments to ensure smooth healing of her face, and a mast to help control scar tissue. She was blinded in her left eye and after her long recovery she received step cell therapy to restore her vision.

Katie's plastic surgeries have been so successful that most of her former beauty has been restored and she has resumed her career.