Nigerian Convicted, Handed Life Sentence for Killing UK Girlfriend

Adedapo Adegbola, 40, was given a life sentence by a Nottingham Crown Court for the murder of Steph Irons, a 23-year-old university student and his ex-girlfriend.

Irish Reports said Thursday that Adegbola acknowledged killing Irons on October 21, 2025, at her home in Mapperley after their brief romance ended.

The couple had dated briefly before splitting up, the court heard, after meeting while working together.

After the breakup, Adegbola grew obsessed with Irons, according to the prosecution, buying two knives online and taking a cab to her house.

According to reports, he assaulted her outside as she was taking out the trash, then he broke in and repeatedly stabbed her.

After getting upsetting messages from her phone, Irons’ coworkers got concerned, which led to an investigation by the police.

She was declared dead at the scene when police found her body in the living room.

After the murder, Adegbola allegedly ran away, leaving bloody clothes and other evidence on the streets of Carlton and Mapperley.

Before turning himself in, he passed through Mansfield, Worksop, Sheffield, and Hull, according to Nottinghamshire Police.

Investigators were able to reconstruct his movements prior to and following the attack, despite his refusal to respond to inquiries during questioning.

Adegbola was given a life sentence by the court, with a minimum of 25 years in jail.

The lead investigator, Detective Inspector Stuart Barson, said Irons was a “good and caring young lady” whose life ended under “harrowing circumstances”.

Adegbola chose to escape while destroying evidence, he said, and made no attempt to get her medical help.

Irons’ mother said in a victim impact statement that the family was “devastated” by her daughter’s passing. She regarded the student as lovely, compassionate, and full of promise. The student had wanted to earn a doctorate in clinical psychology.