Friday, February 6, 2026 - A Nigerian man who m8rdered a woman he worked with after she ended their brief "controlling relationship" has been given a life sentence in the United Kingdom.
Adedapo Adegbola, 40, fatally st@bbed Stephanie Irons, 23,
in the neck, at her home in Mapperley, Nottinghamshire, on the evening of 21
October, 2025.
Adegbola relocated to the UK in 2022.
Nottingham Crown Court heard Adegbola, a social worker,
"had become obsessed" with Irons and planned to kill her.
On Thursday, February 5, 2026, Adegbola was told at the same
court he would spend a minimum term of 25 years in prison following his guilty plea last month.
Speaking in court, Irons's mother said: "I have no
words to say how broken I am to have lost her in such a horrific way.
Adegbola sobbed as the mother described her daughter's
"compassionate and caring" nature.
"She lit up the room and could make even the saddest
person smile," she said.
"That's because she wanted to make a happy and kinder
world."
Sentencing Adegbola Judge Nirmal Shant KC said: "You
had been in a brief relationship with Stephanie Irons after you met as work
colleagues.
"Your controlling behavior led her to end the
relationship. What is plain is that you were not prepared to accept that.
The court heard Adegbola had purchased two knives and
travelled by taxi to Irons's home in Westdale Lane West, unknown to her, after
they finished work on 21 October.
He arrived about 20 minutes later than her and after she
appeared to take her bins out, he entered, leaving an hour and 50 minutes later.
Prosecuting, Peter Joyce KC told the court Adegbola had sent
a number of screenshots of sexually explicit messages from Irons's phone to
colleagues "probably after he had k!lled [her]".
Concerned for Irons, two colleagues visited her home in
Mapperley but when there was no answer, they called the police.
Officers were eventually able to get into the flat through a
rear window.
The court heard Irons was found lying on her back on the
floor, surrounded by blood.
Joyce said: "It is the prosecution's case that he has
become obsessed with this woman and could or would not accept that the
relationship was over.
Before Adebola m8rdered Irons, the court heard colleagues
had become concerned by his behaviour towards her.
On 15 October, he purchased two knives "in order to
k!ll" Irons.
Days later, he went to her home armed with a knife and
inflicted a number of cuts to her as well as the fatal blow to the front of her
neck.
The court heard after attacking her, Adegbola sat on the
sofa "as she lay d3ad, or dying"
He then left taking with him her phone and her keys, locking
her inside before fleeing and disposing of his shirt, trousers and the m8rder
weapon on his way.
What you did on that day was to take the life of a young
girl who was compassionate and accomplished and whose only fault was to love
you at one time," the judge said.
Adegbola handed himself into the police on 22 October, after
feeling to Hull, and later pleaded guilty to murder in January.
Det Insp Stuart Barson, the senior investigating officer in
the case, said Irons's family had shown "incredible strength and
bravery" throughout the investigation
In a statement read out on the family's behalf he said:
"We have lost our beautiful daughter and shining light.
"No-one will ever take away the pain that's been caused
this senseless act.
"She was the kindest, sweetest person anyone could meet
and our lives will never be the same.
"She touched so many lives with her personality and
kind soul.
"While justice will be done, time will never heal our
loss."
A number of police officers were in court on Thursday, at
the request of Irons's mother - a former officer - so she could thank them.
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