Liverpool bodybuilder ‘Purple Aki’ Akinwale Arobieke dies at 64
Liverpool bodybuilder Akinwale Arobieke, notorious across Merseyside under the nickname “Purple Aki,” has died at the age of 64.
Merseyside Police confirmed that Arobieke was found unresponsive at his flat in Toxteth on the evening of Tuesday, 26 August 2025, shortly after 8:30pm. Emergency services attended, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. Officials have stated that his death is not being treated as suspicious, and a file has been passed to the coroner.
A Notorious Reputation
Arobieke, who became infamous in the 1980s, was long associated with unusual and often unsettling behaviour. He was best known for approaching young men in public, asking to touch or “test” their muscles. His actions earned him widespread notoriety and gave rise to an almost urban legend-like reputation across Merseyside and beyond.
One of the most high-profile incidents linked to him came in 1986, when 16-year-old Gary Kelly died after being electrocuted on railway tracks while reportedly fleeing from Arobieke. Arobieke was convicted of manslaughter, but the conviction was later overturned on appeal.
Legal Battles and Restrictions
Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, Arobieke faced repeated arrests and convictions, most notably for harassment and witness intimidation. In 2003, he was sentenced to six years in prison, and later became subject to one of the UK’s most unusual Sexual Offences Prevention Orders (SOPOs).
The order prohibited him from touching men’s muscles, approaching young people, or even instructing individuals to perform exercises such as squats. He breached the order on several occasions, including a 2015 conviction for approaching a young man on a train. The restrictions were eventually overturned in 2016 after a successful legal appeal.
Civil Case Against Police
In 2022, Arobieke won a substantial payout in a civil case against Greater Manchester Police. He successfully argued that he had been the victim of malicious prosecution and misfeasance in public office, claiming he had been unfairly targeted by officers for over a decade.
A Polarising Legacy
To some, Arobieke was seen as a menacing figure whose actions spread fear in communities across the North West. To others, he became a bizarre urban legend, his name passed on in hushed tones as part of local folklore.
His death closes the chapter on one of Liverpool’s most controversial and peculiar figures. While he was often the subject of mockery and rumour, his life also raised complex debates about policing, civil liberties, and the way society deals with individuals whose behaviour sits far outside accepted norms.
The coroner’s report is expected in the coming weeks.
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