Nicole 'feels like a prisoner' since Liam moved close by

The Beady Eye rocker split from Nicole Appleton, 38, earlier this summer when it emerged he had fathered a lovechild with a US journalist, and while he has moved out of the marital home, he is now living around the corner, leaving the former All Saints singer terrified of bumping into him.

A source told the Daily Star newspaper: "She feels like a prisoner in her own home now.

"Even though she wants to be defiant and gutsy she really can't face a public showdown with Liam at the moment.

"Before, Nicole was always out and about in the local pubs, cafes and shops. She loved chatting to locals. But now she isn't going out until she's sent the cleaner, the driver or even sometimes the gardener to see if Liam's about."

Liam, 40, has made things even harder for Nicole - whom he was with for 13 years - by moving his new girlfriend and former personal assistant, Debbie Gwyther, 31, in with him.

Removal men were spotted taking items including a guitar, Sex Pistols and The Beatles posters, a table and many of the ex-Oasis frontman's clothes from the £5m house he shared with Nicole and their 12-year-old son Gene last month, but she is now said to be getting rid of everything he's left behind.

The source said: "She's boxed up a lot of Liam's private possessions he left behind, like photos of his mum and even tapes he's made over the years. Nicole just wants her life to be free of him now."

The former couple are thought to be close to reaching a divorce settlement, which could see the rocker pay out up to £10 million for a discreet parting.