Police send out warning as Katie Piper’s attacker is believed to have left the UK

They are searching for him.

Police in the UK have warned people to be aware of the man who attacked Katie Piper with acid in 2008 as he is believed to have fled the country. Stefan Sylvestre was arrested in 2008 after he attacked the TV presenter on the orders of her ex-boyfriend. He threw sulphuric acid in her face and leaving her with severe burns and blind in one eye. Katie then spent months in intensive care and underwent multiple surgeries for facial disfigurement, with some still ongoing. After receiving a life sentence in 2009 for the incident, Stefan was told he must serve a minimum of six years before he would be eligible for parole. Stefan was released in 2018 but this week was recalled to prison for breaching his licence conditions, with police working to locate him. Sharing an updated statement on Monday, the Met Police said: "Police were notified on Friday, 23 September, that Stefan Sylvestre, 34 (02.06.88), had been recalled to prison. His last known address was in north London. "Enquiries undertaken so far indicate that Sylvestre left the UK on Tuesday, 2 August. "Officers from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command continue to work with partner agencies to locate and arrest him. Sylvestre should not be approached." A Probation Service spokeswoman previously told Metro.co.uk: "We are urgently working with the police to bring the offender back to prison where he’ll face longer behind bars." The acid attack was organised by her former boyfriend Daniel Lynch. He lured Piper to an Internet cafe in London and told Sylvestre where she would be. Sylvestre then threw sulphuric acid in Piper's face when he spotted her. Following the attack, the mum ran into a cafe for help. An ambulance was called and she was rushed to Chelsea and Westminster Hospital. Piper had to undergo hundreds of surgeries. She also lost sight in one of her eyes after the attack. She continues to deal with complications following the attack.