•Adedapo Adegbola and late Steph Irons
A UK court has sentenced a 40-year-old man, Adedapo Adegbola, to life imprisonment for the murder of his former girlfriend, 23-year-old university student, Steph Irons, in Nottingham, England.
Adegbola, 40, stabbed Irons to death at her residence in Mapperley, Nottingham, on October 21, 2025, after their brief relationship ended, police said.
Nottingham Crown Court heard that the pair met as co-workers and were in a relationship before separating shortly before the incident, reports The Irish Sun.
Prosecutors told the court that Adegbola became obsessed with Irons after the breakup and planned the attack.
He reportedly travelled to her home by taxi after purchasing two knives online.
The court was told that the suspect ambushed Irons as she stepped outside to take out the refuse bins before forcing his way into the house, where he carried out the fatal attack.
Concern was raised after Irons’ colleagues received a series of disturbing messages sent from her phone.
Police later discovered her body in the living room with multiple stab wounds. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
After the attack, Adegbola fled, discarding bloodstained clothing and other items along streets in Mapperley and Carlton, according to the Nottinghamshire Police.
The police said the suspect travelled through several towns, including Mansfield, Worksop, Sheffield and Hull, before eventually handing himself over to officers.
Despite declining to answer questions during police interviews, detectives said they were able to reconstruct his movements before and after the killing.
Delivering judgment, the court sentenced Adegbola to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 25 years after he pleaded guilty to murder.
Reacting to the judgment, the lead investigator, Detective Inspector Stuart Barson, said the victim was a “caring and compassionate young woman” whose life was taken in “horrific circumstances.”
Barson said, “Following the attack on Miss Irons, Adegbola made no attempt to call for an ambulance, and was concerned only with getting away from the scene and attempting to dispose of vital evidence.
“I want to thank Miss Irons’ family for the incredible strength that they have shown through this process.
“I hope that this outcome assists Steph’s family in coming to terms with such a dreadful loss.”
In a victim impact statement, Irons’ mother described the loss as devastating, saying she was broken by her daughter’s death.
The victim’s family described her as a loving and compassionate person who had planned to pursue a doctorate in clinical psychology after completing her degree and master’s programme.
