Bodybuilder wins ‘significant’ police payout after being ‘treated unfairly for years’

Akinwale Arobieke was awarded the undisclosed sum just weeks before his allegations of malicious prosecution and misconduct of public office against the Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police were due to go to trial

A bodybuilder has been handed a “substantial” out-of-court settlement by police after allegations two officers campaigned to get him into trouble.

Akinwale Arobieke, who has a criminal record and is well known in Merseyside, sued the Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable for malicious prosecution and abuse of office, with the payout coming just weeks before the trial began.

In his civil lawsuit against GMP, Mr. Arobieke alleged that since 2012 he had been assaulted by two specific officers, who are not publicly named at the time, reports Liverpool echo.

One of the officers is now a detective inspector in the same unit, and the other officer cannot be named anyway for legal reasons.

Mr Arobieke alleged that after encountering problems with his attendance at an event, these officers launched a campaign against him, making false claims that he had molested the now Detective Superintendent, culminating in his being charged and prosecuted.

Over the years, Mr Arobieke’s interest in squeezing young men’s muscles has led to him being jailed. In 2003 he was sentenced to six years in prison after being convicted of molesting 15 men.

Mr Arobieke said officers began their alleged campaign against him because they knew they would get him into trouble if a “draconian” court order had been issued against him. Mr. Arobieke successfully defended himself in the harassment trial in 2013.

He retained Liverpool law firm James Murray Solicitors to assist him in claiming GMP for compensation for misconduct in public office and malicious prosecution.

Mr Arobieke said today: “This has been an ordeal from the start of the allegations against me and the many years that my civil action has taken to reach completion.

“It caused me a lot of fear and excitement. I would like to publicly thank Lee Massingham of James Murray Solicitors and Stephen Simblet QC of Garden Court North Chambers for their services in pursuing my case and securing a significant settlement from GMP.”

Mr Massingham said: “Mr Arobieke was treated unfairly for many years, particularly after a draconian sex crimes prevention order was issued against him. He believes that the order has been abused on numerous occasions by a range of forces and the events in this case are a very good example of that abuse.

“The order was overturned some time ago, but he had to endure this process for a number of years only to have the matter resolved before trial very soon. Nonetheless, I am pleased with the outcome of this case for Mr. Arobieke and feel that he can now move on.”

A spokesman for GMP said: “We can confirm that GMP has settled the lawsuit brought by Akinwale Arobieke and will not comment further.”