Katie Piper says she's "trying to come to terms" with the early release of the man who attacked her with acid in 2008.
The 34-year-old TV star and charity campaigner - who has undergone over 100 operations including pioneering eye surgery following the attack - said it was a really "difficult" time for her in a statement on Twitter.
Stefan Sylvestre was given a life sentence in 2009 for throwing corrosive liquid at the former model which had been plotted by her ex-boyfriend Daniel Lynch. Lynch was also given a life sentence with a minimum of 16 years for sexually assaulting Piper as well as organising the attack. He remains in prison.
Katie is preparing to take part on this year's Strictly Come Dancing, which she described as a "welcome and positive distraction" from her past.
She tweeted: "This is a really difficult time for me. I am trying to come to terms with the decision and this is something I need to deal with.
"Over the past 2 weeks Strictly has already given me such a welcome and positive distraction from my past. Whilst there is never a good time to hear this news, I am glad I have this new journey to concentrate on."
Sylvestre - now 30 - was told he must serve a minimum of six years before being eligible for parole.
But the Parole Board has said there were several factors which "reduced Mr Sylvestre's risk of causing serious harm in the future", Sky News reports.
Katie suffered horrific injuries in the attack which left her blind in one eye and permanently scarred.
Surgeons at Chelsea and Westminster hospital completely removed the skin of Katie's face, replacing it with a skin substitute called Matriderm, to build the foundations for a skin graft.
She was put into a medically induced coma for 12 days after the attack.
A spokeswoman for the Parole Board said: "We can confirm that a panel of the Parole Board directed the release of Mr Stefan Sylvestre following an oral hearing.
"Parole Board decisions are solely focused on whether a prisoner would represent a significant risk to the public after release.
"The panel will have carefully looked at a whole range of evidence, including details of the original evidence and any evidence of behaviour change.
"We do that with great care and public safety is our number one priority."
Katie had read statements in person to the panel, the Parole Board confirmed.
The Parole Board summary said that Sylvestre "was just 19 when he committed the index offence," and that he had been "drawn into a criminal lifestyle in his teens and was involved with drugs."
They added that he had "actively avoided anti-social behaviour within the prison and has avoided violence, despite being under threat", and "has behaved well to distance himself from such influences."
"He has not been involved in drugs in prison and has completed relevant offence-focused work to challenge and change his attitude and thinking," it was stated.
Since the attack, Katie has hosted her own TV shows for Channel 4, written numerous books chronicling her recovery, and launched The Katie Piper Foundation to help those with scars and burns. She's married to Richard James Sutton, with whom she has two daughters.
Naomi Gordon is news writer mainly covering entertainment news with a focus on celebrity interviews and television.
