Cheryl Cole's Brother Found Homeless Behind Morrisons Supermarket
Andrew Tweedy, the estranged brother of popstar Cheryl Cole, has been photographed living in a tent behind a Morrisons supermarket branch in Jarrow, South Tyneside. The 45-year-old was seen sitting near the shop entrance from early morning, drinking cans of cider, highlighting his ongoing battle with homelessness and addiction.
Struggles with Rehabilitation and Legal Troubles
Tweedy recently appeared at South Tyneside Magistrates' Court, where he pleaded guilty to being drunk and disorderly outside the same Morrisons on February 25. Police were called after he was shouting and swearing at customers, and he told officers to 'F*** off' when they arrived. The court heard this was his 44th conviction for 115 offences, including armed robbery, for which he served a six-year prison sentence.
Despite being handed a six-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £113, Tweedy was spotted weeks later living in his tent and drinking £1.29 cans of 8.5 per cent Colliers Cider. He has erected the tent behind the supermarket, where he has been homeless since 2021.
Family Efforts and Personal Despair
Cheryl Cole, who grew up with her brother in Byker, Newcastle, has made several attempts to help him, including paying £20,000 for rehabilitation. However, Tweedy has expressed reluctance to return to rehab, stating, 'I have been in rehab three times but I'm not going back. I am one of those people that take one step forward and ten steps back. Every time.'
In 2021, Tweedy revealed to The Sun that he believed Cheryl was unaware of his homelessness, saying, 'She probably won't even know I'm on the streets, I don't blame her at all. This is the lowest I've ever been.' He was discovered sleeping alongside bottles of urine and empty beer cans in his makeshift home, sharing the tent with a homeless friend.
History of Crime and Addiction
Andrew Tweedy's troubles began early; he participated in his first robbery at age 13. In 2005, he was sentenced to four years for the brutal mugging of a teenager, a crime for which he jumped bail and spent five weeks on the run. Earlier, in 1996, he was placed in a Young Offender Institution for stabbing two students in a street fight, serving three years before parole.
He was jailed again in 2011 for six years for involvement in an armed robbery at a Post Office. The former labourer became hooked on glue at a young age after growing up on a heroin-ravaged estate in Newcastle, which has contributed to his lifelong struggles.
Cheryl's Support and Emotional Toll
Cheryl Cole has never publicly discussed her heartache regarding her brother, but Tweedy has acknowledged her support. In 2008, speaking from his jail cell, he told the Sunday Mirror, 'Cheryl wants to help me - but I'm too far gone. I know I'm breaking her heart, but I'm not strong enough to sort myself out.' He described her as looking 'so sad and so tired' during covert jail visits, which he said broke his heart.
Reports indicate that Cheryl held her brother's hand during a prison visit and begged him to let her and former husband Ashley Cole pay for rehab, but Tweedy refused, fearing he would let her down. He has expressed hope to one day repay her kindness, but remains trapped in his current situation.
Current Situation and Local Response
A local officer stated that authorities do not have a 'real right' to move Andrew from the plot where his tent is erected, as the land is owned by the council. He is reportedly awaiting temporary accommodation. Tweedy, who has a son, was forced onto the streets after his relationship broke down earlier in the year.
When approached for comment recently, Tweedy said he didn't want to talk but added, 'I have slept outside Morrisons for a long time.' His story underscores the challenges of addiction, homelessness, and family dynamics in the face of public scrutiny.
