Adedapo Adegbola sentenced to life in UK for murdering his ex-girlfriend Stephanie Irons in Nottingham

Adedapo Adegbola, a Nigerian national based in the United Kingdom, has been sentenced to life imprisonment for murdering his ex-girlfriend, Stephanie Irons.

Also read: Jeriq says music saved him from crime and prison

The sentencing was handed down on Thursday, February 5, 2026, by Judge Nirmal Shant KC at Nottingham Crown Court, with a minimum term of 25 years.

Judge Shant described Mr Adegbola’s controlling behavior as a key factor in the killing, stating that he had been unable to accept the end of the brief relationship with Ms Irons.

The 40-year-old fatally stabbed his 23-year-old former partner in the neck at her home on Westdale Lane West, Mapperley, Nottinghamshire, on October 21, 2025.

Investigations revealed that Mr Adegbola had purchased two knives prior to the attack and travelled by taxi to Ms Irons’s residence.

Forensic examination found defensive wounds on her arms, confirming she attempted to protect herself during the assault.

Mr Adegbola pleaded guilty to the killing on January 26, 2026. Nottingham Police confirmed the fatal wound was inflicted to the neck, causing Ms Irons’s immediate death.

Also read: Beatrice Ekweremadu returns to Nigeria after UK prison term

The judge emphasized the seriousness of the crime, warning that controlling and obsessive behaviour in intimate relationships could escalate to extreme violence if unchecked.