NOTTINGHAM — A 40-year-old man who “extinguished the future” of a gifted young academic has admitted to her murder in a brief but somber appearance at Nottingham Crown Court.
Adedapo Adegbola, of Westfield Lane, Mansfield, pleaded guilty today to the fatal stabbing of 23-year-old Stephanie “Steph” Irons. The attack took place on the evening of October 21, 2025, at Miss Irons’ home on Westdale Lane West in Mapperley.
A Tragic End to a Brief Relationship
The court heard that Adegbola and Miss Irons were former coworkers who had been involved in a brief relationship. Following their breakup, Adegbola traveled to her Nottingham home where he launched a violent assault.
The alarm was first raised by concerned colleagues who received “concerning messages” on the night of the attack. Emergency services arrived at the scene at 10:07 pm to find Miss Irons wounded in her living room. Despite the desperate efforts of paramedics, she was pronounced dead shortly after.
The Flight and Trail of Evidence
Following the stabbing, Adegbola fled the scene without calling for medical assistance. In his haste to evade capture, he left behind a trail of incriminating evidence, including blood-stained trainers and a jumper discarded on the streets of Mapperley and Carlton.
His flight took him across the region, with police tracking his movements through:
- Mansfield
- Worksop
- Sheffield
- Hull
The following morning, October 22, Adegbola returned to Nottingham and handed himself in at Oxclose Police Station. While he initially refused to comment during police interviews, detectives built an “overwhelming” case against him using CCTV, digital forensics, and witness testimonies.
‘A Bright Young Star’
Stephanie Irons was described by her family as a “bright young star” with an infectious smile. A graduate of Nottingham Trent University, she had already earned her Master’s in Clinical Psychology and was on the verge of applying for her doctorate.
“Our bright young star has had her future taken away and while we can’t comprehend what has happened, she will be forever with us,” her family said in a statement.
Detective Inspector Stuart Barson, who led the investigation, called the case “horrific,” noting that Adegbola’s primary concern after the attack was his own escape rather than the life of the woman he claimed to care for.
Sentencing
Judge Nirmal Shant KC informed Adegbola that he faces a mandatory life sentence. He has been remanded in custody and is scheduled to be sentenced on February 5, 2026, where the minimum term he must serve before being eligible for parole will be determined.
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