Monkhouse was deemed surplus to requirements by Sturrock when the Scot took charge at the County Ground in November and was shipped off to Hartlepool on loan without making a single appearance.
Having now made his loan deal permanent last month, Monkhouse rose to head Richie Humphreys' second-half corner past Phil Smith to show Sturrock just exactly what he had so hastily let go.
Despite proving sweet revenge for Monkhouse, it was a game where Hartlepool's defensive pairing of Michael Nelson and Ben Clark repelled everything a lively Swindon attack could throw at them.
As early as the sixth minute, Lee Peacock found himself in a space after good work from Sofiane Zaaboub but the striker stabbed his side-foot volley just wide.
Minutes after the half-hour mark a mistake by Monkhouse allowed Zaaboub a clear sight on goal but his goalbound effort was headed off the line spectacularly by Nelson.
The rebound dropped for Andy Nicholas in unfamiliar attacking territory, but his well-struck half-volley smashed off the inside of the post.
Hartlepool boss Danny Wilson felt his side had an opportunity to catch Swindon cold after the break and he was proved correct in his prediction as Monkhouse headed them into an early lead.
The winger angered the Swindon faithful as he cupped his hands to his ears following his bullet header in an act of defiance to the thousands who had booed him all afternoon.
Swindon threatened to pull one back when Christian Roberts was put through minutes later, but the Welsh striker foolishly elected to try and take the ball around Dimitrios Konstantopoulos and was promptly denied by the giant Greek.
Sturrock attempted to force the issue by playing four strikers for the final 15 minutes, but the defensive wall of Nelson and Clark stopped everything that was thrown their way.