Strictly Come Dancing bosses have reportedly stepped up security for Katie Piper after her acid attacker was released from prison.
Stefan Sylvestre was granted parole after just nine years of the life sentence he was given for the attack on her.
According to The Sun, Sylvestre was released from Highpoint jail, in Suffolk on Wednesday and brought to a bail hostel in London.
Read more: Strictly judges accused of being brutal as contestant left close to tears
As a result, the publication reports that Katie has been joined by a bodyguard during breaks from Strictly rehearsals.
A source told The Sun: “Sylvestre’s licence conditions include an exclusion zone which bars him from an area around Katie’s address.
“Any attempt to go near the ‘Strictly’ studios in Hertfordshire would almost certainly also see him returned straight to jail.
“But although Sylvestre is banned from contacting Katie in any way, the simple fact that he’s back in London will be of great concern to her.”
ED! has contacted representatives for Strictly for comment.
Katie previously admitted she was feeling “psychologically overwhelmed” by Strictly Come Dancing because of Sylvestre’s release.
The mother-of-two had hoped the show – on which she is partnered by Gorka Marquez – would provide her with a “welcome distraction” at a difficult time in her personal life but she’s finding it tougher than she expected.
She told the Mirror earlier this month: “I have been having lots of things going on in my personal life, legal things, and I think it became psychologically overwhelming for me…
“I get really emotional on Mondays and Tuesdays, it’s always then I want to storm off in a tantrum and cry because it’s a new routine and song, it’s so overwhelming.”
And the 34-year-old campaigner has requested more upbeat tracks for her routines as she find sad songs make her feel worse.
She admitted: “When the lyrics are emotional, that’s tough.”
Read more: Katie Piper issues advice ahead of Strictly Halloween episode
The former model previously admitted the injuries she sustained in the attack could make Strictly “a little more difficult” for her.
She told the Radio Times last month: “I’ve got some injuries that might make it a little more difficult. But I don’t think it’d hold me back. I’ve lived with extensive injuries for 10 years.
“I can’t see anything on [my left] side at all, but I’ve been like that for 10 years, so I’ve actually forgotten what it’s like to see from all sides.”
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