Cheryl involved in harrowing stalker ordeal as convicted killer turns up at home weeks after Liam Payne funeral
Cheryl has reportedly been left distraught after a convicted killer turned up at her Buckinghamshire home where she lives with her seven-year-old son Bear.
Daniel Bannister, 49, of no fixed address, has been found to be “displaying fixated, obsessive, unwanted and repetitive behaviour” towards the former Girls Aloud star.
The incident occurred on December 10, just weeks after the funeral of Cheryl’s ex-partner Liam Payne.
Bannister, who was previously jailed for manslaughter in 2012, caused the 41-year-old singer “serious alarm” when he appeared at her property.
The stalker has now been remanded in custody after pleading guilty to three separate offences in December.
He is due to be sentenced on January 30. In September, Bannister was jailed for four months and given a three-year restraining order, preventing him from contacting Cheryl or entering Buckinghamshire.
The order specifically banned him from attending her address or attempting to contact her, either directly or indirectly.
Despite these restrictions, court documents reveal Bannister breached his restraining order by entering Buckinghamshire on December 10.
He turned up at “an address where you knew or believed Cheryl Tweedy was present,” constituting another breach of the order.
During Cheryl’s West End performance in 2:22 A Ghost Story earlier last year, her team was reportedly on “red alert” after she received disturbing messages accompanied by flowers left outside the theatre.
Bannister was previously jailed for two-and-a-half years in 2012 for the manslaughter of Rajendra Patel at a YMCA homeless shelter in south London.
CCTV footage showed Bannister savagely punching and kicking Mr Patel as the victim attempted to walk towards a lift.
The attack left Mr Patel with a broken ankle and nose, along with swelling to the left side of his face. He died 15 days later from complications.
At Kingston Crown Court, His Honour Judge Nicholas Price said: “This is a tragic case. When you attacked Mr Patel you did not intend to cause serious bodily harm let alone cause death.
“But the attack undoubtedly goes beyond one punch, it is a sustained attack or more or less 30 to 40 seconds.”
The judge added: “It is clear you are not a danger to the public, but it is inevitable that you must serve an immediate custodial sentence.”
The stalking incidents come during a period of profound grief for Cheryl, following the death of her ex-partner Liam Payne in October 2024.
The former One Direction star tragically fell 45ft to his death from a hotel balcony in Argentina.
In a heartbreaking tribute, Cheryl said at the time: “As I try to navigate this earth shattering event, and work through my own grief at this indescribably painful time, I’d like to kindly remind everyone that we have lost a human being.”
She continued: “Liam was not only a pop star and celebrity, he was a son, a brother, an uncle, a dear friend and a father to our seven year old son.”
The singer made her first public appearance since Liam’s death in November, joining her Girls Aloud bandmates for a Children In Need charity performance.
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Fans praised Cheryl for being “incredibly strong” during this difficult period.
Cheryl reportedly increased her security measures in March 2023 following earlier stalking concerns during her West End theatre run.
Her performances in 2:22 A Ghost Story were said to be blighted by “disgusting” notes left for her at the theatre.
The latest incidents involving Bannister have heightened security concerns for the singer and her young son.
The Mirror reports that during her theatre performances, her team maintained heightened vigilance after disturbing messages were sent with flowers from outside the venue.
A spokesperson for Cheryl has not yet commented on the recent stalking incidents.