A Women's Super League footballer was forced to employ a personal safety officer after being subjected to a stalking campaign by a wealthy London businessman, a court has heard.
Marie Hobinger, the 24-year-old Liverpool midfielder, was left terrified when entrepreneur Mangal Dalal, 42, bombarded her with sexualised messages via Instagram.
The Austrian international received repeated communications from Dalal, who shared his telephone number and postcode whilst requesting that she visit him.
Dalal, a divorced businessman residing in a £3.8 million Marylebone townhouse, has admitted to stalking the player.
Liverpool star Marie Hobinger blocked the stalker, who travelled 200 miles to watch her play
|PA
He claims he was experiencing mental health difficulties during the period of offending, which occurred between late January and mid-February this year.
Hobinger reported the unwanted contact to Liverpool Football Club and subsequently blocked Dalal from reaching her online.
Despite this, the businessman journeyed more than 200 miles from the capital to attend Liverpool's fixture against Manchester City at the Joie Stadium on 16 February.
The match, which Liverpool lost 4-0, saw Dalal position himself at the edge of the pitch as the final whistle blew.
A vigilant steward noticed the 42-year-old and promptly alerted the club's safety officer, who had begun accompanying Hobinger to fixtures due to mounting concerns for her welfare.
Marie Hobinger described the messaging as "intense, continual, and totally inappropriate"
|PA
Police were summoned to the scene and Dalal was questioned by officers, during which he confessed to the stalking offence whilst citing his mental state as a mitigating factor.
Prosecutor Sarah McInerney told the court that Hobinger is "a talented professional sportswoman at the top of her game" whom Dalal "targeted and treated as an object that he could use to air his fantasies."
She described his messaging as "intense, continual, and totally inappropriate," noting it had profoundly affected the player who simply wished to excel in the sport she loves.
The prosecution highlighted substantial evidence of premeditation in Dalal's behaviour, including his journey to Manchester and his deliberate positioning beside the playing surface after the match concluded.
McInerney referenced the victim's personal statement, noting that Hobinger continues to travel with a safety officer and experiences ongoing anxiety regarding the stalking.
"Dalal's behaviour was criminal and will not be tolerated in a fair and equal society," the prosecutor stated.
Defence barrister Daniel Lister argued his client had been experiencing a mental health crisis at the time, which has since been treated.
Marie Hobinger had to hire a bodyguard while also continuing to talk to a professional about the anxiety the incident has induced
|PA
He submitted evidence of a 111 call Dalal made regarding his mental state, along with correspondence from the businessman's former wife.
Lister suggested a financial penalty might be appropriate, noting Dalal had no previous convictions and was unlikely to trouble the courts again.
However, District Judge James Clarke firmly rejected this approach, stating: "I have read the documents and I would not think this case is appropriate for a fine."
Marie Hobinger is currently sidelined with an ACL injury
|PA
The judge requested probation service involvement to assess potential recommendations, transferring proceedings to Westminster Magistrates Court for sentencing on 20 January.
Hobinger, who joined Liverpool from FC Zurich Frauen in July 2023 having won two Swiss league titles, is currently sidelined with an anterior cruciate ligament injury.