A man has been sentenced for stalking Liverpool footballer Marie Hobinger. He must do 18 months of community service and follow a two-year restraining order.
Mangal Dalal is 42 years old and lives in Westminster, London. He went to Westminster Magistrates’ Court. He said he was guilty of stalking Hobinger, who is 24. Dalal sent her wrong messages on Instagram for several weeks in early 2025.
Dalal used two accounts on social media. He sent many messages to Hobinger. They started with likes and comments. Then they became clear and wrong. He wrote things like 'Morning, I love you.' He also sent bad pictures and comments.
Hobinger blocked Dalal after getting the messages. She told her club, Liverpool. The club cared about her safety. They gave her a safety officer to go with her to matches. Hobinger said she felt worried and could not sleep well. She felt not safe and could not focus on games.
In February 2025, Dalal waited for Hobinger after a match. This made police get involved. He admitted to stalking her. The court made a restraining order. It stops him from talking to her or going to her games.
Dalal's lawyer said he had a mental health problem when he did this. He has bipolar disorder and gets treatment. The judge noted he was good before but said his actions were serious.
Dalal must do 18 months of community service. He will get help to improve. He also has to pay court costs. Hobinger keeps playing football. She signed a new deal and played some games this season before an injury.
