A football fan-turned-stalker has been handed a two-year restraining order and an 18 month community order after he sent a “scared” Liverpool women’s star underwear pictures
Marie Hobinger was stalked by the father of two(Image: )
A football fan-turned-stalker has been handed a two-year restraining order and an 18 month community order for stalking Liverpool star Marie Hobinger.
Hobinger, who plays for the Reds’ women’s team, was left distressed and said her performance on the pitch was affected after father-of-two Mangal Dalal sent her pictures of underwear, Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard.
Dalal said he wanted to rip her shorts off in messages and Hobinger had to change her daily routines, held back from mixing with fans on matchdays and felt anxious in her own home. The stress also led to a flare-up of a skin condition.
At home, she said she became “anxious and scared – any noise, I fear the male may have found out where I lived.
“When it is dark I found myself looking over my shoulder. I know I was safe, but felt anxiety and rushed inside. It is not a nice feeling especially when your home is meant to be a safe place.”
Hobinger also said the events had “affected my performance on the pitch” and after the full-time whistle “often shy away as I feel insecure”.
The Austrian added: “I love matchdays and this is a time when I should feel focused and strong.
“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 women’s football is sexualised and disrespected. No woman, no matter what her job, should have to put up with this kind of behaviour.”
Passing the sentence, Judge Hina Rai told Dalal: “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, of Marylebone, west London, was also ordered to pay £650 costs and a £114 victim surcharge.
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