Akinwale Arobieke, the infamous figure known as 'Purple Aki' who for decades approached young men to feel their muscles, has died following contact with police. The 63-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene in Liverpool on Monday after officers were called to reports of a man in distress.
Arobieke had a lengthy criminal record spanning over 30 years, with multiple convictions for harassment and assault. His unusual fetish involved asking teenage boys and young men to flex their muscles so he could squeeze them, often measuring their biceps. He became a feared bogeyman in Merseyside, with parents warning children to stay away from him.
His nickname, 'Purple Aki', was racially charged, suggesting he was 'so black he's purple'. Despite his notoriety, many believed he was an urban legend until they encountered him in person. Victims described him as a large, muscular man who spoke softly but could be intimidating.
One victim, James Vaughan, recalled being approached at age 15 or 16 in Garston, south Liverpool. Arobieke asked to feel his biceps, and Vaughan complied out of fear. Another man, Tony Evans, encountered him at a warehouse in the 1980s and threatened to throw him down stairs if he didn't back off.
Arobieke's death is not being treated as suspicious, and the Independent Office for Police Conduct has been informed. The incident has reignited discussions about his legacy and the fear he instilled in communities across the North West.
