One of Liam Payne’s closest friends has told the Free Press that he was ‘lovely and delightful’ but there was ‘no one around him to say stop’ when it came to his ‘demons’.

The 31-year-old, who became a global superstar with the boyband One Direction, died on October 16 after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

The musician had lived in Chalfont St Giles prior to his shock death, moving in the Foxwood mansion along Turners Wood Drive in 2022.

This was to be closer to his young son who he had with his former partner, Cheryl Tweedy, who lives in Chalfont St Peter.

Speaking one day after his sudden death in South America, the person in question, who has asked to remain nameless, described Payne as a ‘shy’ and ‘not flashy’, but admitted that he was ‘riddled with demons’.

He worked with the late musician during the early days of One Direction’s fame in the early 2010s.

They said: “He was only 16 when it really took off, and I remember being with him for an interview with Heat magazine.

“There were only 16 to 20 fans on Shaftsbury Avenue waiting for them to come, but the boys were riding their BMXs in the car park.

“They were kids, and they literally took off.

“I think the problem was that they had fame at such a young age.

“They weren’t like the Beatles, but the noise around them was similar to that of the 2010s.

“It was a lot to digest and when the band stopped (in 2016), apart from Harry Styles who has gone into the stratosphere of fame, the others haven’t hit it off.

“Your group has disbanded and you all take £30million…that can send you anywhere.

“At Christmas just gone, Liam looked absolutely broken as he just battled with drugs.

“Sadly, he had too much too young and he was riddled with demons.

“It got the better of him.”

Payne initially auditioned for the X Factor in 2008 at the age of 14 and made it through to the judge’s houses round (one stage before the live shows), before he was eliminated.

He was told by the show’s creator and judge Simon Cowell to ‘come back in two years’, which he did.

Now aged 16, he returned in 2010 , but after being eliminated once again just before the live shows, singer and judge Nicole Scherzinger suggested putting Payne, along with other solo artists in Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik and Louis Tomlinson in a group.

This led to the creation of One Direction, which became one of the biggest boybands in music history, selling nearly 100 million records worldwide.

He continued: “He was lovely and delightful.

“He wasn’t nasty, viscous or arrogant – he was quite shy.

“Look at the house he bought [in Chalfont St Giles] – it’s private and not overly flash, but I honestly think a lot of people will be in the firing line for this sadly.

“He didn’t have anyone around him to say ‘no, don’t do this’ and no one stopped him buying drugs.

“People will criticise Simon Cowell but how long can Simon be responsible for them?

“They’re not on his label and they are adults.

“They know what’s right and what’s wrong, and sadly, he went down the wrong route.”

Several residents along Turners Wood Drive in the village admitted that they weren’t aware of him living along the street, but one person who noticed his presence called the late musician a ‘lovely lad.’

Liam Payne and his girlfriend Kate Cassidy were spotted in Chalfont St Giles, but they hadn't been seem at the property 'for a little while'Liam Payne and his girlfriend Kate Cassidy were spotted in Chalfont St Giles, but they hadn't been seem at the property 'for a little while' (Image: Ian West/PA Wire)

He said: “He was seen, quiet, and sometimes you heard his music late at night, but he was no problem.

“We saw him and his girlfriend a few times and it’s so tragic.

“I’m speaking on behalf of all the neighbours that the street will miss him.

“He was a lovely lad.”

Reports from Argentina have confirmed that Payne suffered ‘internal and external haemorrhages’ along with ‘multiple traumatic injuries’ from the fall, but it is not known if his death has been ruled as deliberate or accidental.

However, it has been confirmed that the 31-year-old had been alone in his room before his death, which he had partially trashed.

Images of the vicinity show a broken TV along with several drugs that had been taken.