A convicted killer who repeatedly stalked pop star Cheryl Tweedy has been returned to prison just weeks after being secretly released on licence. Daniel Bannister, 51, was issued with a recall warrant this week for breaking the rules of his bail hostel.
From Secret Release to Swift Recall
Bannister was originally jailed for 12 months on September 23 last year for breaching a restraining order designed to protect the former Girls Aloud singer. However, he was released after serving only three months of that sentence.
His freedom was short-lived. The Ministry of Justice confirmed Bannister was recalled to prison on Tuesday, January 13, for breaching his licence conditions. A spokesperson stated: 'As this case shows, we do not hesitate to send offenders back to prison where necessary if they break the rules.'
The breach involved allegations that he kept alcohol in his room at a south London bail hostel, violating the terms of his release to a halfway house.
A History of Harassment and Fear
Cheryl Tweedy provided a victim impact statement to the court detailing the profound effect Bannister's stalking has had on her and her family. She revealed she feels 'on edge every time I open my gate' and described how the stalker has 'scared her young child'.
'Each time he returns the worry of his intentions intensifies,' the singer said. 'I'm worried, nervous and on edge every time I open my gate. No person should have to feel this way.' She added that the situation has forced her to hire personal security.
The court heard that Bannister visited Cheryl's rural Buckinghamshire home for a fourth time on June 19. He arrived in a taxi just before 10pm, rang the intercom twice, and peered over the gate. Cheryl 'immediately panicked' and was 'terrified', fearing for the safety of her eight-year-old son, Bear.
A Dangerous and Defiant Offender
Bannister, a musician, has a long history of defying court orders related to the celebrity. He was jailed for 16 weeks in March last year for similar offences and had previously been handed a three-year restraining order in September 2024, which he subsequently breached.
During sentencing last September, Judge Alan Blake told Bannister: 'She does not wish any contact with you and you are causing her anxiety. You have shown defiance to the court order. You need to draw a line under that behaviour.'
Bannister's criminal past extends far beyond stalking. He was convicted of manslaughter in 2012 and sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison for the killing of 48-year-old Rajendra Patel at a south London YMCA homeless shelter.
The latest recall to prison underscores the ongoing challenge authorities face in managing persistent offenders who pose a significant threat to public safety and continue to breach court orders.
