Akinwale Arobieke, the infamous figure known as 'Purple Aki' for his decades-long pattern of approaching young men to feel their muscles, has been found dead. The 58-year-old had been a fixture in the North West of England since the 1980s, accumulating numerous court appearances and prison sentences for his unusual behaviour.
For over 30 years, Arobieke's actions terrorised communities across Merseyside, where he would ask teenage boys and young men to flex their muscles before touching them. His notoriety grew to the point where he became a modern-day bogeyman, with parents warning their children to stay away from him. Despite his fearsome reputation, many dismissed him as an urban legend until they encountered him in person.
One victim, James Vaughan, recalled being approached by Arobieke at age 15 or 16 in Garston, south Liverpool. 'Can I feel your muscles? Can I feel your biceps?' Arobieke asked before gripping Vaughan's arms. Another victim, Tony Evans, encountered Arobieke at a warehouse near Liverpool's Albert Docks in the early 1980s. Evans described him as 'very deferential, very quiet, spoke very, very softly.'
Arobieke's nickname, 'Purple Aki,' was racially charged, implying he was 'so black he's purple.' His activities were curtailed by court orders in recent years, but those restrictions had been lifted prior to his death. The cause of death has not been disclosed.
