Prosecutors told the court that Adegbola became obsessed with Irons after the breakup and planned the attack.
A 40-year-old Nigerian man, Adedapo Adegbola, has been sentenced to life imprisonment for murdering his former girlfriend, 23-year-old university student Steph Irons, in Nottingham, England.
Nottingham Crown Court ordered Adegbola to serve a minimum of 25 years after he pleaded guilty to killing Irons at her Mapperley home on October 21, 2025. The Irish Sun reported the judgment on Thursday.
The court heard that Adegbola and Irons met as co-workers and were in a relationship before separating shortly before the incident.
Prosecutors told the court that Adegbola became obsessed with Irons after the breakup and planned the attack.
It was revealed that he purchased two knives online and travelled by taxi to Irons’ home. The court was told that he ambushed her as she stepped outside to take out the refuse bins before forcing his way into the house, where the fatal attack occurred.
Concerns arose when 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, and she was pronounced dead at the scene.
After the attack, Adegbola fled, discarding bloodstained clothing and other items along streets in Mapperley and Carlton, Nottinghamshire Police said. Officers reported he travelled through several towns, including Mansfield, Worksop, Sheffield, and Hull, before eventually handing himself over.
Although he declined to answer questions during police interviews, detectives said they were able to reconstruct his movements before and after the killing.
Reacting to the judgment, lead investigator Detective Inspector Stuart Barson described the victim as 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 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.