Daniel Bannister jailed for stalking Cheryl again, leaving the star and her child terrified

Singer Cheryl Tweedy has described living in fear after her stalker repeatedly turned up at her home, breaching a restraining order and terrifying her young child.

Daniel Bannister, 50, was jailed for 12 months at Reading Crown Court after admitting he violated the order by visiting Cheryl’s Buckinghamshire property on 19 June. It was the fourth time he had appeared at her house, despite being previously jailed for the same offence.

The Girls Aloud star told the court in a victim impact statement that Bannister’s persistent behaviour had left her “worried, nervous and on edge every time I open my gate”. She revealed she has now been forced to hire private security.

“Each time he returns the worry of his intentions intensifies,” she said. “Daniel has made my young child scared. No person should have to feel this way.”

The June incident occurred late at night when Bannister arrived by taxi at Cheryl’s home in Chalfont. He rang the intercom system twice and peered over the gate before leaving. When questioned, he bizarrely claimed he believed the singer had invited him over on Microsoft Teams.

Judge Alan Blake condemned Bannister’s conduct, saying: “You have shown defiance to the court order. You need to draw a line under that behaviour. Cheryl does not wish any contact with you.”

Alongside his prison sentence, Bannister was given a fresh restraining order prohibiting him from contacting the star.

Bannister has a long and disturbing criminal history. In 2012, he was jailed for killing Rajendra Patel, 48, at a YMCA homeless shelter in south London. He admitted manslaughter and served two-and-a-half years in prison.

His harassment of Cheryl began more recently but has been relentless. In January last year, he turned up at her home announcing, “It’s Daniel, I’ve come to get Cheryl.” Months later, in July, he returned again and asked for a glass of wine.

Both incidents led to a restraining order and a four-month prison sentence. Yet in December he once more breached the order, showing up at her property just weeks after Cheryl had attended the funeral of her former partner, One Direction star Liam Payne, who died in Argentina.

During that episode, Bannister admitted harassment and further breaches, receiving a 16-week prison term earlier this year.

But despite repeated warnings and time behind bars, he showed up again in June, escalating Cheryl’s sense of fear and forcing her to tighten security at home.

The pop star, 42, is a mother to a young son, Bear, who she shares with the late Payne. Her statement to the court emphasised the emotional toll Bannister’s actions have taken on her family life.

“I was stunned when Daniel visited again. I was already living with heightened anxiety, and now every knock at the gate brings dread. He has robbed me of feeling safe in my own home,” she told the court.

Cheryl’s ordeal highlights the ongoing dangers celebrities face from stalkers who refuse to respect boundaries, even under strict legal restrictions. Bannister’s past conviction for manslaughter only deepened the sense of alarm surrounding his repeated targeting of the singer.

Judge Blake’s sentencing makes clear the seriousness of Bannister’s offences, but for Cheryl the fear may not end quickly. Each unwelcome visit has compounded her anxiety, and she remains determined to protect her child from further trauma.

For now, Bannister is behind bars once again. But with a history of returning to Cheryl’s doorstep, questions linger over whether the restraining orders and prison sentences will finally stop him.