Liverpool, UK — Akinwale Oluwafolajimi Oluwatope Arobieke, widely known by the nickname Purple Aki, has died at the age of 64. He was found deceased at his flat in Toxteth on August 26, 2025, closing a chapter on one of the most controversial and talked-about figures in modern British criminal history.
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Born on July 15, 1961, at Crumpsall Hospital in Lancashire, Arobieke’s early years were marked by hardship. Raised in care after being placed in a Barnardo’s home in Llandudno, he later worked in various jobs, including as a tunnel cleaner and messenger. But it was his notoriety in the 1980s and 1990s that would make him a household name across the North West and beyond.
In 1986, his name first drew national attention when 16-year-old Gary Kelly died at New Brighton railway station while allegedly fleeing from Arobieke. He was initially convicted of manslaughter, but the conviction was overturned on appeal. Arobieke later received compensation, claiming racial bias in the original prosecution.
From the late 1990s onwards, his behaviour toward young men led to multiple harassment convictions. In 2003, following testimony from dozens of witnesses, he was jailed for six years. Judges and police alike described him as a “strange and obsessive” figure whose actions instilled fear in many.
A Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) was imposed in 2006, banning him from approaching or touching young men, loitering near gyms, schools, or sports clubs, and entering certain towns. However, he repeatedly breached the order, including a 2007 incident in Preston when he touched a man’s biceps. Judges at various times referred to him as a “sexual predator,” despite the fact that he was never convicted of a sexual offence.
Arobieke also fought legal battles against the authorities. In 2022, he won a significant settlement against Greater Manchester Police, accusing officers of malicious prosecution and misconduct. His claims of racial discrimination became a recurring theme in his disputes with law enforcement.
His notoriety extended beyond the courts. In 2016, BBC Three released a documentary titled The Man Who Squeezes Muscles: Searching for Purple Aki. Arobieke objected to both the program and the nickname itself, which he maintained was racist. He lodged numerous complaints against media outlets and advertisers who used the term.
While his life was shadowed by criminal cases and public controversy, it also brought wider debates about race, policing, and the criminal justice system in Britain.
Akinwale Arobieke’s death at 64 brings an end to a turbulent and often sensationalized story that spanned decades. For many, he will remain a figure of fear and notoriety; for others, a symbol of how race and policing intersect in the UK’s legal system.