Cheryl Focuses on Bear as Liam Payne’s First Anniversary Approaches After Stalker Is Jailed Again

Cheryl Tweedy is focusing on her son Bear as the first anniversary of Liam Payne’s death approaches, following the jailing of a man for stalking the Girls Aloud star. At Reading Crown Court, Daniel Bannister, 50, was sentenced to 12 months in prison after admitting a single charge of breaching a restraining order. In a victim impact statement, Cheryl said she is 'on edge every time I open my gate' and spoke publicly about the ongoing fear she has endured.

Bannister has previously served time for similar offences and is described by prosecutors as unable to stay away from the multitalented singer. After the sentencing, sources close to Cheryl said she has been 'in a really bad place' but that Bear is 'her world' and her focus is now on him and safeguarding his well-being ahead of what is described as the anniversary of Payne’s death. 'She’s a fiercely strong woman and Bear is her world, so he’s her only focus right now,' one associate told a tabloid, underscoring the intensity of the period for the 42-year-old.

Cheryl and Liam Payne first crossed paths in 2008 when he was a 14-year-old auditioning for X Factor. They began dating in 2016 and welcomed son Bear in 2017. The pair announced their breakup in 2018, with Payne later posting that they still share love for their family and asking for privacy as they navigate life with their son. Payne’s death in October last year, while in a hotel in Buenos Aires, was reported in the press and left fans and friends reflecting on the arc of their lives as a family.

Meanwhile, a clip from a 2019 documentary featuring Ant Middleton remains a touchstone for fans. In Liam Payne: Straight Talking, the duo traveled to Namibia for a hard-hitting survival experience and discussed their evolving relationship as co-parents. Payne told the program that he and Cheryl remained close and that their dynamic had grown into something uniquely tailored to their circumstances. 'We found our own unique situation around things, and obviously it’s not the most normal situation in the world, granted,' he said. 'For the majority of it, my life’s really abnormal, so why would that be any different?' During the same program, Payne expressed a desire to protect Cheryl and Bear, saying, 'I still want to protect her. I was just worried that I would not be enough, to look after the both of them.' The sentiment was later echoed by supporters who described Cheryl as a devoted mother whose priority is Bear.

A source close to Cheryl reiterated that she remains focused on Bear and on marking the anniversary with her family in private. 'She’s a fiercely strong woman and Bear is her world, so he’s her only focus right now,' the person said. The Daily Mail reported on the sentencing and the protective stance Cheryl has embraced in the wake of Bannister’s latest breach, with representatives for Cheryl not immediately commenting.

No further statements have been issued publicly, and friends emphasize that the upcoming anniversary is a difficult personal milestone for Cheryl as she balances public interest with private healing.