Westminster Man Receives Court Orders for Stalking Liverpool Women's Football Star
A man from Westminster has been handed a two-year restraining order and an 18-month community order after being convicted of stalking Liverpool Women's footballer Marie Hobinger. Mangal Dalal, aged 42, engaged in a campaign of harassment that spanned several weeks, causing significant distress to the Austrian international player.
Details of the Harassment Campaign
Dalal, who resides at Hyde Park Gardens in Westminster, sent repeated inappropriate and sexualised messages to Hobinger via Instagram over a three-week period beginning on January 27, 2024. The communications included pictures of his underwear and explicit statements such as 'I want to have your babies'. He also sent details of her address and postcode, declaring his love and expressing regret that they had not slept together.
The situation escalated when Dalal travelled from London to Manchester in February 2024 to attend Liverpool Women's away match against Manchester City in an attempt to see Hobinger in person. He later waited for her by the side of the pitch following a match, demonstrating a determined pattern of unwanted pursuit.
Club Response and Police Intervention
Hobinger had alerted Liverpool Football Club to the messages, prompting serious concerns for her safety. The club assigned a safety officer to accompany her to matches as a protective measure. During the game at Manchester City's Joie Stadium, a steward identified Dalal in the crowd and raised the alarm. He was subsequently questioned by police, during which he admitted the conduct but claimed he was mentally unwell at the time.
Impact on the Victim
In her victim impact statement, Hobinger described how the stalking had left her struggling to sleep and constantly alert to noises at her home, where she lives alone. She expressed anxiety in car parks at night and admitted her thoughts were not fully on her game during matches. The 24-year-old midfielder also revealed that the stress had caused a repeat flare-up of a skin condition.
'I love matchdays and this should be a time when I should be feeling confident and strong,' Hobinger stated. 'Someone from Liverpool football club also had to escort me home. The club has been amazing and it has been hard to deal with the situation. It makes me sad that women's football is sexualised and disrespected. No woman, no matter what her job is, should have to put up with this type of behaviour.'
Legal Proceedings and Sentencing
At Westminster Magistrates' Court, Judge Hina Rai described Dalal's conduct as 'very serious, notwithstanding the messages were sent on social media'. She noted that while the harassment was not prolonged, it had caused significant harm to the victim. The judge considered Dalal's previous good character and medical reports in her sentencing decision.
Dalal's lawyer, Daniel Lister, explained that his client suffers from bipolar disorder and had been experiencing a manic episode with psychotic features during the period of the offences. Lister described how Dalal had been 'walking around barefoot, preaching sermons on the streets of London' at the time and had since sent Liverpool FC a statement apologising to Hobinger and expressing remorse.
Court Orders and Restrictions
Dalal, who appeared in court wearing a white shirt and blue trousers, will be required to undergo 25 days of rehabilitation alongside serving his 18-month community order. He must pay court costs totalling £764. The restraining order specifically prohibits him from visiting Liverpool's training ground at Melwood or the home stadiums of Liverpool Women's team – either St Helens or Anfield.
Hobinger, who joined Liverpool in July 2023 and featured in every match during her first season at the club, is currently sidelined with a long-term knee injury sustained in October. The case highlights ongoing concerns about the safety and respect of female athletes in professional sports.
