Man who pursued young sportsmen is banned from town

9:39am Thursday 2nd November 2006

THE man known as Purple Aki' has been released from jail nearly three years after being sentenced for his predatory pursuit of young sportsmen.

But police have secured a court order against 45-year-old Akinwale Arobieke (seen right) that bans him from entering St Helens, feeling men's muscles and asking people to do squat exercises.

Arobieke - universally known as Purple Aki in St Helens and neighbouring towns - was jailed for six years in December 2003 after pleading guilty to 15 counts of harassment.

The offences centred on Arobieke - who is around 6ft 2ins tall and powerfully built - terrorising young men and taking a fascination in their muscular development.

Most commonly the victims were members at gyms and rugby league clubs from the game's north west heartlands.

Although Arobieke was never convicted of a sexual offence, Deputy District Judge Aled Jones granted the temporary Sexual Offences Prevention Order at Liverpool Magistrates' Court last week.

The lengthy terms of the order also ban Arobieke from loitering near sports clubs, gyms, colleges and universities.

Police had applied for the court order to coincide with his release from Walton Prison. Prior to the prosecution for harassment back in 2003, detectives in St Helens had mounted an exhaustive investigation into Arobieke, codenamed Operation Ice', during which more than 120 young men and teenagers were interviewed.

The interim order will remain in place until midnight on Thursday, November 23 and an application for a permanent order under the Sexual Offences Act 2003 has been made.

Under the order, he must not:

• Touch, feel or measure the muscles of any person or request any person to carry out squat exercises in any public place, or in any private place to which the public have access (whether on payment or otherwise). Or in any private place without the consent of the person.

• Approach or associate with any person under the age of 18, expect where such an approach or association is no more than merely accidental.

• Undertake work (paid or voluntary) where he is likely to come into contact with anyone aged under 18.

• Drive or be a passenger in any vehicle, unless it is a registered taxi or a public service vehicle.

• Leave the Merseyside Police area until he has informed a nominated police officer of where he is going, the address he will be staying at and the time and date he will be returning.

• Enter St Helens without the consent of the Chief Constable of Merseyside, or the Chief Constable of the area in which he is then residing.

• Enter Widnes and Warrington without the consent of the Chief Constable of Merseyside, or the Chief Constable of the area in which he is then residing.

• Enter or loiter in the vicinity of any sports club, sports ground, sporting facility or fitness gymnasium.

• Enter or loiter in the vicinity of any educational establishment, school, college or university except with the permission of the Chief Constable.