Cheryl’s troubled brother Andrew Tweedy has once again been pictured living on the streets — this time in a tent behind a supermarket, just years after the pop star reportedly spent thousands trying to help him turn his life around.
The 45-year-old was seen outside a Morrisons store in Jarrow, South Tyneside, sitting near the entrance from early morning and drinking strong cider. Witnesses described him lingering around the shop, at times asking for money, with a makeshift camp set up behind the building where he now sleeps.
Andrew, who has long battled addiction and a troubled past, openly admitted his struggles have continued despite multiple attempts to get clean. He said he had been through rehab three times but refused to go back, describing his life as a constant cycle of setbacks. He explained that he feels like one of those people who take one step forward and ten steps back every time.
His latest sighting comes just weeks after appearing at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court, where he pleaded guilty to being drunk and disorderly outside the same supermarket. Police had been called after he shouted abuse at customers and swore at officers when they arrived.
The court heard this was his 44th conviction, linked to a staggering 115 offences, including armed robbery. Despite the long criminal history, Andrew told magistrates he was trying to fix his life and insisted the process of change had only just begun. He was handed a six-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £113.
But any hope of stability appears short-lived. Not long after the hearing, Andrew was again seen sleeping rough, drinking cheap high-strength cider and living in a tent behind the store — a situation that echoes his homelessness first revealed back in 2021.
Cheryl, who grew up with Andrew in Newcastle, has reportedly made repeated attempts to help her brother over the years. On one occasion, she paid £20,000 for him to attend rehab, determined to give him a chance at recovery.
Yet Andrew has long admitted he struggles to accept that support. In a past interview, he heartbreakingly confessed that while Cheryl wants to help him, he believes he is too far gone, adding that he knows he is breaking her heart but doesn’t feel strong enough to change.
He also previously revealed the devastating reality of his life on the streets, saying he had been begging for months and felt deeply ashamed given the family he comes from. Despite the estrangement, he insisted he doesn’t blame Cheryl and believes she may not even know how bad things have become.
Andrew’s troubled life stretches back decades. He was involved in his first robbery at just 13, later serving time for violent crimes including a brutal mugging and an armed Post Office robbery. He has also spent time in a young offenders’ institution after a stabbing incident in his teens.
His struggles with addiction reportedly began early, growing up in a community heavily affected by drugs, and escalated into long-term substance abuse.
Despite everything, Andrew has repeatedly spoken about Cheryl’s unwavering support. He once recalled how she visited him in prison alone, looking exhausted and heartbroken, and even begged him to accept help — an offer he turned down out of fear of letting her down.
Now, as he waits for temporary accommodation, local authorities say they have limited power to move him from the land where his tent is pitched.
Behind the headlines, the story remains one of a family torn between love, loss, and a battle that still has no clear ending.
