Man guilty of murdering woman in Mapperley
Adedapo Adegbola fatally wounded 23-year-old Steph Irons as he visited her address on the evening of Tuesday 21 October 2025.
A man who fatally stabbed ‘bright young star’ Steph Irons has pleaded guilty to murder.
Adedapo Adegbola, 40, fatally wounded the 23-year-old as he visited her address on the evening of Tuesday 21 October 2025.
Adegbola, a former work colleague, was motivated after their brief relationship ended.
The alarm was raised by co-workers after a series of concerning messages were sent to them on the evening of the attack.
Emergency services were then called to Westdale Lane West, Mapperley, at 10.07pm where they discovered Miss Irons wounded in her living room.
Despite the best efforts of paramedics, she was pronounced dead at the scene a short while later.
By this point, Adegbola had fled to a property in Mansfield, leaving a trail of discarded evidence including blood-stained trainers and a jumper on the streets of Mapperley and Carlton.
He then travelled to Mansfield, Worksop, Sheffield and finally to Hull.
The next morning (22 October) he returned to Nottingham and handed himself in at Oxclose Police Station, where he was arrested on suspicion of murder.
He went on to provide no comment to questions posed by detectives in subsequent police interviews.
Despite this, investigators gathered crucial evidence to charge Adegbola with the murder of Steph Irons that Friday (24 October).
Using CCTV footage, digital evidence, and witness accounts, they tracked the movements of the defendant in the moments before, during and after the incident.
Today (26 January 2026) the defendant pleaded guilty to murder when he appeared at Nottingham Crown Court.
Adegbola, of Westfield Lane, Mansfield will be sentenced on Thursday 5 February.
Detective Inspector Stuart Barson, lead investigator of the case, said:
“This is a tragic case in which a caring and compassionate young woman was taken away in horrific circumstances.
“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.
“Although he initially turned himself in, he went on to provide no comments to police interviews.
“The evidence compiled against him, though, has left the defendant with no choice but to plead guilty today.
“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.”
Steph’s family previously paid tribute to her in a touching statement:
“Steph had an infectious smile and laugh which lit up any room she walked into.
“She was a beautiful, loving and caring daughter, sister, niece, cousin and friend. She had a compassion for others and would always see good in everybody.
“She had a huge heart and wore it on her sleeve.
“Her ambition to be a psychologist was well on the way after gaining both a degree and masters in clinical psychology. After gaining experience, she was about to apply for her doctorate in clinical psychology.
“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.”