A UK court has handed down a life sentence to 40-year-old Adedapo Adegbola for the murder of his former girlfriend, 23-year-old university student Steph Irons, in Nottingham, England.
Irish Reports stated on Thursday that Adegbola was sentenced at Nottingham Crown Court after admitting to killing Irons at her home in Mapperley on October 21, 2025, following the end of their brief relationship. The court heard that the pair met at work, dated for a short time, and later separated.
Prosecutors told the court that Adegbola became fixated on Irons after the breakup. He allegedly ordered two knives online and took a taxi to her residence, where he attacked her as she went outside to take out the rubbish before forcing his way into the house and fatally stabbing her.
Concerns were raised when Irons’ colleagues received disturbing messages sent from her phone. Police later found her body in the living room, and she was pronounced dead at the scene.
After the incident, Adegbola fled the area, discarding bloodstained clothing and other items along roads in Mapperley and Carlton. Nottinghamshire Police said he travelled through Mansfield, Worksop, Sheffield, and Hull before eventually turning himself in. Although he refused to answer questions, investigators were able to trace his movements before and after the killing.
The judge sentenced Adegbola to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 25 years.
Detective Inspector Stuart Barson, who led the investigation, described Irons as a “kind and compassionate young woman” whose life ended in “terrifying circumstances.” He noted that Adegbola did not attempt to get medical help for her and instead chose to flee and dispose of evidence.
In a victim impact statement, Irons’ mother said the family had been left devastated by her daughter’s death. The family described the student, who hoped to pursue a doctorate in clinical psychology, as loving, caring, and full of promise.
