Horrific attack leaves young model with lasting injuries
Two men have been jailed following a vicious rape and acid attack on a 24-year-old model, who has been left with lifelong injuries.
33-year-old Daniel Lynch of Becklow Gardens, Shepherd's Bush was sentenced to life for rape and grevious bodily harm, and two years for actual bodily harm in connection with the crime.
His accomplice, 20-year-old
Stefan Sylvestre of Chaplain House, Australia Rd, Shepherd's Bush, pleaded
guilty to grevious bodily harm and was sentenced to serve an indeterminate sentence
with a minimum of six years.
As a result of the acid attack, the 24-year-old woman received third degree burns to her face and body and has needed 30 skin grafts. She also suffered damage to her throat, which has resulted in her having to
consume food intravenously, she is partially blind in the left eye and has to wear a plastic
mask 23 hours a day.
She still faces two more years of surgery.
The victim's ordeal began when she arranged to meet her then-boyfriend, Daniel Lynch, at the Ramada Jarvis in Bayswater Road in March of last year. They went out to dinner and retired to their room at midnight.
Lynch then physically assaulted the victim by pushing her against a door where she hit her
head. He deliberately hit her on her injured head again and went on to rape her. Following this
assault the victim ended her relationship with Lynch.
A few days later, police were called to reports of a woman injured in Golders Green Rd, NW11, outside the Shiva beauty salon. Officers attended and found the 24-year-old woman suffering severe burns to her face, upper body and hands. She was taken to Chelsea and Westminster hospital.
She subsequently reported the rape and assault to police.
Detective Sergeant Warren Kennard of Barnet CID, the officer in charge of the investigation,
said: "The insecurity and sheer evilness of Daniel Lynch resulted in a quite appalling sequence
of events.
"He arranged for Stefan Sylvestre to throw, what we now know to be, sulphuric acid at the
victim resulting in horrendous injuries from which she is still recovering.
"She is unable to work and will probably never be able to resume her flourishing career. Her
life will never be the same again but I hope this sentence goes some way to helping her move on
with her life."
Chief Superintendent Steve Kavanagh Borough Commander for Barnet, where the crime was investigated, said rape was one of the most serious crimes dealt with by police.
"The public should be reassured that we treat sex offences as a top priority and will do
everything we can to identify and arrest those involved in such crimes," he said.
The victim's father paid tribute to the police for their work: "We are very pleased at long last we have received justice for
our daughter. It has been an extremely distressing time for the whole family. I would like to
thank the police officers involved in the case for all the help and support they have given my
daughter throughout."
1 May 2009