Adedapo Adegbola, 40, was sentenced to life in prison by a Nottingham Crown Court for the murder of Steph Irons, a 23-year-old university student and his ex-girlfriend.
Adegbola acknowledged killing Irons at her Mapperley home on October 21, 2025, after their brief romance ended, Irish Reports said Thursday.
The couple, the court heard, had dated briefly before splitting up after meeting while working together.
After the split, Adegbola grew obsessed with Irons, according to the prosecution, buying two knives online and taking a taxi to her house.
After allegedly attacking her outside while she was taking out the garbage, he broke in and repeatedly stabbed her inside the house.
After getting upsetting messages from Irons’ phone, her coworkers got concerned, which led to an investigation by the police.
She was declared dead at the scene when officers found her corpse in the living room.
Adegbola allegedly ran away after the murder, leaving bloody clothes and other evidence on the streets of Carlton and Mapperley.
He passed through Mansfield, Worksop, Sheffield, and Hull before turning himself in, according to Nottinghamshire Police.
Investigators were able to reconstruct his movements prior to and following the incident, despite his refusal to answer questions during questioning.
Adegbola was given a life sentence with a minimum of 25 years in jail by the court.
Irons’ life ended in “terrifying circumstances,” according to lead investigator Detective Inspector Stuart Barson, who called her a “kind and compassionate young woman.”
He went on to say that Adegbola chose to escape while destroying evidence, making no attempt to get her medical help.
Irons’ mother noted in a victim impact statement that the family was “devastated” by her daughter’s passing. She characterized the student as lovely, compassionate, and full of promise. The student had hoped to obtain a doctorate in clinical psychology.
