A convicted killer with a history of stalking Cheryl Tweedy has admitted to harassing the pop star once again—despite a restraining order meant to protect her.
Daniel Bannister, 50, pleaded guilty to breaching the order by showing up at a Buckinghamshire address on June 19, believing the former Girls Aloud singer was there. He now faces up to five years in prison after appearing before Reading Magistrates’ Court, where District Judge Davinder Sandhu denied him bail and referred the case to the Crown Court for sentencing on September 23.
A Pattern of Obsession
Bannister, previously jailed for manslaughter in the 2012 killing of Rajendra Patel at a south London YMCA shelter, has developed a disturbing fixation on Cheryl. Last year, he made multiple uninvited visits to her home, often using the intercom to communicate.
In one chilling incident in January 2024, he announced: “It’s Daniel, I’ve come to get Cheryl,” leaving the singer “violated and terrified.” In July, while Cheryl was at home with her son Bear, Bannister returned, bizarrely requesting: “I’m really thirsty, I just want a glass of wine, please.”
Then in December, shortly after the tragic death of Cheryl’s former partner Liam Payne, Bannister showed up again. The timing and repeated violations led Cheryl to panic, fearing for the safety of both herself and her child. She told police:
“I knew this was Daniel… I immediately panicked… I want to protect my child from any harm.”
“Affectionate View” or Dangerous Obsession?
Bannister’s defence lawyer, Colin Mackrell, claimed the latest breach was his client’s misguided attempt to “reassure” Cheryl.
“It’s clear Mr Bannister has formed an affectionate view of her,” Mackrell said.
But prosecutors—and Cheryl herself—have painted a far more alarming picture of escalating harassment and emotional trauma.
Background: A Violent Past
Bannister is no stranger to the criminal justice system. In 2012, he admitted to killing 48-year-old Rajendra Patel in a violent attack at a YMCA shelter and served just 20 months in prison for manslaughter.
Given his violent history and repeated disregard for legal restrictions, prosecutors are now pushing for a harsher sentence. If convicted at the Crown Court, Bannister could face a maximum of five yearsfor breaching the restraining order.
For Cheryl Tweedy, this marks yet another chapter in a long battle for peace and safety—one that many argue the system has failed to provide.
