A man who stalked Liverpool women's star Marie Hobinger has been handed a two-year restraining order after sending her pictures of underwear and telling her he wanted her babies
Marie Hobinger's stalker has been handed a restraining order
Marie Hobinger's stalker has been handed a restraining order(Image: )
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A man who stalked Liverpool women's star Marie Hobinger has been handed a two-year restraining order and given an 18-month community order after sending her pictures of underwear.
Mangal Dalal sent the Austria international messages of a sexual nature on Instagram, where he also told her he wanted to have babies with her. Westminster magistrates court heard that the father of two had made her feel anxious in her own home, which saw Hobinger hold back when it came to interacting with fans at matches and that the stress had led to a flare-up of a skin condition.
Dalal, of Marylebone, London, had previously pleaded guilty to stalking at Liverpool magistrates court in December. On Tuesday he was also ordered to pay £650 of costs and a £114 victim surcharge.
Sentencing Dalal, the district judge Hina Rai said: “The nature and tone of the highly sexualised content was distressing and caused her to be fearful of her surroundings and affected her daily life.”
Dalal travelled to a Liverpool clash in Manchester last February and was spotted by the pitch after the game. The court heard that he admitted this in a police interview but said he had been mentally unwell.
His defence lawyer, Daniel Lister, said Dalal was of previous good character but was experiencing a psychotic episode at the time he was contacting The Liverpool star.
Hobinger said in a victim statement the events had affected her performance on the pitch and also claimed: “This incident has meant I now struggle to sleep. I live on my own, and being on my own at home I become anxious and scared – any noise I fear [he] may have found out where I lived.
Mangal Dalal told the Liverpool midfielder he wanted to have her babies
Mangal Dalal told the Liverpool midfielder he wanted to have her babies(Image: )
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“Although I am in the public eye I do not feel it is acceptable to receive sexually explicit messages. I do not feel that it is acceptable that women’s football is sexualised and disrespected. No woman, no matter what her job, should have to put up with this kind of behaviour.”
Hobinger moved to Liverpool in July 2023, joining from FC Zurich Frauen in Switzerland. She is currently recovering from a serious injury but previously became the first player in WSL history to get a hat-trick of assists, all from corners, during a 4-3 win over Chelsea at Prenton Park.
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