Cheryl ‘wants to focus on Bear’ ahead of Liam Payne’s first anniversary and has been in a ‘really bad place’ after her killer stalker was jailed again

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Cheryl is reportedly struggling as the first anniversary of her split from Liam Payne approaches. Sources say she’s prioritizing their son, Bear, and moving forward after a difficult time dealing with a stalker.

He’s been jailed again for violating a restraining order, after she previously stated his stalking terrified her child.

Daniel Bannister, a 50-year-old convicted killer, repeatedly harasses 42-year-old singer Sarah Harding and has been imprisoned for this behavior before. He seems unable to stop contacting her.

A judge at Reading Crown Court sentenced the man to a year in prison on Tuesday after he pleaded guilty to violating a restraining order.

In a victim impact statement, Cheryl revealed she is ‘on edge every time I open my gate’. 

People close to Cheryl say she’s been struggling since the sentencing, but her son Bear is her priority. She wants to focus on him, especially with the anniversary of his father’s death approaching.

Last year, on October 16th, One Direction singer tragically died in a fall while staying at a hotel in Buenos Aires.

A friend of Cheryl shared with The Mirror that she’s relieved by the jailing, and is now concentrating on her son, Bear. However, she’s also aware that this isn’t the first time this has happened, and it’s difficult to fully put the situation behind her.

‘But she’s a fiercely strong woman and Bear is her world, so he’s her only focus right now.’

People are hoping she can now focus on what truly matters and properly commemorate the anniversary of Liam’s death, free from this awful situation.

Daily Mail has contacted a representative for Cheryl.

Cheryl first met Liam in 2008 when he auditioned for The X Factor at age 14.

After not succeeding, he returned in 2010 and became a member of One Direction.

The pair started dating in 2016, and welcomed their son Bear the following year.

They announced their split in 2018, and Liam shared on social media that they still cared deeply for each other as a family.

Bear is very important to us, and we kindly request privacy as we deal with this situation.

A video of the singer with Ant Middleton from a 2019 documentary recently resurfaced on TikTok. It shows how friendly he and Cheryl were even after they broke up.

Ant Middleton and Liam Payne embarked on a challenging survival journey to Namibia for their show, Straight Talking.

Ant then asked Liam about his relationship with Cheryl and Bear. Liam explained that they had developed a unique dynamic, admitting it wasn’t conventional.

Honestly, I’ve reached a point where I don’t even know what a ‘normal’ life looks like. Most of my life has been pretty unusual, and I don’t expect things to change now.

When Ant asked if he and Cheryl were still friendly, Liam responded that they definitely have a good relationship. He explained they share many similar life experiences which help them navigate their current circumstances.

More than anything, I just want her to be happy. She’s earned it – she’s worked so hard, and she’s a wonderful mother.

‘And yeah, she just needs to find happiness in the right places.’

Later in the show, Liam talked more about Cheryl, sharing that she’s always supported him and he still feels protective of her.

He explained he was mainly concerned about whether he could adequately care for both of them. He emphasized how important that was to him, and that he was working towards it gradually.

Even though we’re not together, she remains one of the most important people in my life, and possibly the most important.

Even though we’re not in a romantic relationship, Cheryl is always supportive, and I really appreciate that. I feel fortunate to have someone who truly understands what I’m going through.

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2025-09-27 12:48