Cheryl focuses on Bear as stalker jailed ahead of Liam Payne’s first anniversary

Cheryl Tweedy says she wants to focus on her son Bear as she confronts a stalking case that has re-emerged, ahead of what is described in reports as the first anniversary of Liam Payne’s death. The singer has been in a “really bad place” after a convicted stalker was jailed again, with the court case underscoring the ongoing fear around the safety of her family.

Daniel Bannister, 50, was sentenced at Reading Crown Court to 12 months in prison after admitting a single charge of breaching a restraining order. Prosecutors said Bannister had breached the order repeatedly, and he has previously spent time in prison for the same offence. In a victim impact statement, Cheryl said she is “on edge every time I open my gate.”

Following the sentencing, sources close to Cheryl indicated she has been grippingly aware of the danger Bannister poses, but Bear remains “her world” and the focus of her attention. The insider underscored that while she is relieved the stalker is back behind bars, the fear of recurrence remains a heavy burden, especially as she approaches the anniversary linked to Liam Payne’s life.

Context about Cheryl’s relationship with Payne is part of the public record. The Fight For This Love singer first met Liam in 2008 when he was 14 and auditioning for X Factor. They began dating in 2016 and welcomed their son Bear in 2017, before announcing their breakup in 2018. At the time, Liam posted that they still had love for one another as a family and asked for privacy as they navigated their lives. A source close to Cheryl reiterated that Bear is her primary priority and that she hopes to observe the upcoming anniversary with a sense of protection and counsel for the boy’s welfare.

In recent years, Liam Payne has publicly reflected on his relationship with Cheryl and Bear. A clip from a 2019 documentary, Ant Middleton & Liam Payne: Straight Talking, has resurfaced on social media. In the show, Payne discussed his bond with Cheryl and Bear and said they had forged a unique arrangement that works for them given their family situation. He told Ant Middleton that, while not traditional, he hoped Cheryl would find happiness and noted that she has been a consistent source of support for him. A representative for Cheryl did not respond to inquiries about the case.

The Daily Mail, which reported the initial sentencing and the victim’s statement, notes that Bannister’s latest breach occurred after prior incidents and that the court’s decision reflects ongoing efforts to safeguard Cheryl and her family. The outlet also highlighted Payne’s past comments about the couple’s shared history and the challenges they have faced as co-parents to Bear. The report situates Bannister’s 12-month sentence within a broader pattern of restraining-order violations and the continued vigilance required by those targeted by stalkers. The storytelling in this case weaves together court action, private fear, and the long arc of a family navigating fame, privacy, and safety in the public eye.