Cheryl Tweedy, the pop star once known simply as Cheryl, has endured a years-long ordeal at the hands of Daniel Bannister—a convicted killer and persistent stalker—culminating in a fresh 12-month jail sentence after he breached a restraining order by turning up at her home for the fourth time. The saga, which has left the singer and her young son Bear living in fear, reached a new climax on September 23, 2025, when Bannister, 50, appeared at Reading Crown Court and admitted to the latest violation.
According to BBC News, Bannister arrived at Cheryl’s rural Buckinghamshire residence in a taxi just before 10pm on June 19, 2025. Security footage and witness accounts revealed that he rang the intercom system twice and peered over the gate, convinced—by his own account—that Cheryl had invited him via Microsoft Teams. The court, however, found no basis for this claim. Judge Alan Blake, in sentencing, told Bannister, "She does not wish any contact with you and you are causing her anxiety. You have shown defiance to the court order. You need to draw a line under that behaviour."
This wasn’t Bannister’s first encounter with the law over his obsession with Cheryl. As The Independent and other outlets reported, his pattern of harassment began in January 2024, when he first showed up at her home, introducing himself at the gate and declaring, "it's Daniel, I've come to get Cheryl." He returned in July that same year, this time asking for a glass of wine. After these initial incidents, Bannister was jailed for four months in September 2024 and handed a three-year restraining order. Yet, in December 2024, he breached the order again by turning up at Cheryl’s home, leading to further charges of harassment and a 16-week jail sentence in March 2025.
The court heard that Bannister "can’t stay away" from the singer, a phrase echoed in multiple hearings. During the March 2025 sentencing, Cheryl described the terror she felt seeing Bannister outside her home. She "immediately panicked" and was "terrified," fearing for the safety of her eight-year-old son Bear. The impact on her family has been profound. In a victim impact statement presented at the most recent hearing, Cheryl said, "Each time he returns the worry of his intentions intensifies. I’m worried, nervous and on edge every time I open my gate. No person should have to feel this way." She added, "Daniel has made my young child scared."
Cheryl’s fear is not unfounded. Bannister’s criminal history is chilling. In 2012, he killed Rajendra Patel, a 48-year-old man, during an attack at a south London YMCA homeless shelter. Bannister pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison at Kingston Crown Court. According to BBC News, Patel died from an injury to his leg. Bannister’s past, coupled with his relentless pursuit of Cheryl, has only heightened the singer’s anxiety and sense of vulnerability.
The repeated breaches of the restraining order have forced Cheryl to take drastic measures. She has hired personal security and has spoken publicly about the toll the ordeal has taken on her mental health and her son’s well-being. "I was stunned when Bannister visited my home yet again," she said in her statement. "Each time he returns, the worry of his intentions intensifies." The emotional strain is evident: "I’m worried, nervous and on edge every time I open my gate. No person should have to feel this way."
Judge Alan Blake, presiding over the latest case, made it clear that Bannister’s actions were not only a violation of the law but a direct threat to Cheryl’s peace of mind. "You have shown defiance to the court order," Blake said. "You need to draw a line under that behaviour." The judge also issued a fresh restraining order, barring Bannister from any contact with Cheryl.
Bannister’s obsession with Cheryl has led to a cycle of arrests, court appearances, and jail sentences. At various points, he has claimed to be invited or welcomed, but the courts have consistently rejected these assertions. In one bizarre twist, he told authorities he believed Cheryl had invited him to her home via Microsoft Teams, a claim that was dismissed as unfounded.
The singer’s personal life has been marked by tragedy beyond her experiences with Bannister. In October 2024, her former partner Liam Payne, the ex-One Direction star and father of her son Bear, died after falling from a third-floor hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Cheryl described Payne’s death as "indescribably painful" and has voiced fears about protecting their son in the wake of both Payne’s passing and Bannister’s continued harassment.
Cheryl, who rose to fame as a member of Girls Aloud and later as a solo artist, has faced her share of public scrutiny and personal challenges. She was married to former footballer Ashley Cole until 2010, and her relationship with Payne, though it ended in separation, brought her son Bear into the world. The confluence of public life, personal loss, and now the persistent threat from Bannister has left her in a state of heightened vigilance.
For Bannister, the latest 12-month sentence is just the most recent in a string of custodial terms. As The Independent noted, he is a musician and was trained as a figure skater as a child, but his adult life has been marred by violence and obsession. The court’s hope, as expressed by Judge Blake, is that Bannister will finally "draw a line" under his behaviour. Yet, Cheryl and those close to her remain wary, given his history of ignoring legal boundaries.
The case has sparked broader conversations about the effectiveness of restraining orders and the challenges faced by stalking victims, especially those in the public eye. Cheryl’s situation, while high-profile, is not unique. Many victims of stalking report feeling unsafe even after legal protections are put in place, particularly when offenders repeatedly breach court orders.
As the legal system grapples with how best to protect individuals from persistent stalkers, Cheryl’s ordeal stands as a stark reminder of the very real dangers posed by those who refuse to respect boundaries. For now, the singer and her son can breathe a little easier with Bannister behind bars, but the shadow of his obsession lingers—a testament to the enduring impact of stalking on its victims.
