thug was jailed for life for sex attack and disfiguring model’s face

A VICIOUS cage-fighter who raped his ex-girlfriend and arranged for acid to be hurled in her face has had his attempt to overturn one his convictions thrown out by the appeal court.

Daniel Lynch, 34, of Becklow Gardens, Shepherd’s Bush, was jailed for life in May 2009 following the horrific attack on model and budding TV presenter, Katie Piper.

Lynch recruited Stefan Sylvestre to throw sulphuric acid in her face outside her Golders Green flat in March 2008.

He admitted assaulting Miss Piper, causing her actual bodily harm, and in March 2009 he was found guilty of raping her following a retrial.

Lynch was ordered to serve at least 16 years behind bars.

Sylvestre was given a public protection sentence, with a minimum jail term of six years.

During a hearing at London’s Criminal Appeal Court today (Monday), Lynch’s lawyers urged top judges to order the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to disclose evidence they could use in an appeal against his conviction for raping Miss Piper.

After undergoing a pioneering treatment, she waived her right to anonymity to record a documentary for Channel 4, entitled ‘Katie: My Beautiful Face’.

Lynch’s barrister, Nick Ham, argued her accounts of the attack given when filming a ‘taster tape’ for this programme in February 2009, and the documentary itself - which was aired in October 2009 - were ‘inconsistent’ with her evidence during Lynch’s trial and statements she gave police.

Lord Justice Pitchford, sitting with Mr Justice Henriques and Judge John Milford QC, refused the application, saying further disclosure was ‘not appropriate’ and the jury’s verdict was ‘safe’.

The judge said the application amounted to a ‘fishing expedition’, which would not be allowed. He added: “We conclude that neither further disclosure is appropriate, nor that the safety of the verdict is at issue.”