A man who repeatedly stalked Girls Aloud singer Cheryl Tweedy has been jailed for 16 weeks after showing up at her home once again, leaving the pop star 'terrified'.
Daniel Bannister, 50, had already served jail time for harassing the singer, but in December 2023, he breached his restraining order and returned to her home in Chalfonts, Buckinghamshire. The court heard that Bannister had previously appeared at her house in January and July 2023, insisting, 'It's Daniel, I've come to get Cheryl,' and later asking for a glass of wine.
Upon seeing Bannister via her home security camera, Tweedy said she 'immediately panicked' and feared for her safety, especially as her young son, Bear, was due home from the cinema.
High Wycombe Magistrates' Court sentenced Bannister for harassment and for breaching his restraining order, replacing his existing three-year restriction with an indefinite ban. District Judge Arvind Sharma noted that Bannister, who has no fixed address, was fully aware of the distress he was causing Tweedy but disregarded legal orders.
Bannister has a violent past, having been jailed in 2012 for the manslaughter of Rajendra Patel, who died from injuries sustained in an attack at a homeless shelter in London.
The Crown Prosecution Service condemned Bannister’s repeated breaches, stating that offenders like him leave victims feeling 'alarmed and fearful.' While he has served three months in remand, he may be released in a matter of weeks.
This case raises broader concerns about the effectiveness of restraining orders in protecting stalking victims. Should legal measures be strengthened to prevent repeat offenders from endangering their victims?。