Young woman, 23, brutally stabbed to death in shocking attack
Family Devastated: “Our Beautiful Daughter, Our Shining Light”
Steph Irons, just 23, was fatally stabbed in her home on the evening of Tuesday 21 October, sending shockwaves through her community. Her parents have spoken out, heartbroken by their loss. “We have lost our beautiful daughter and shining light,” they said.
“Steph was the kindest, sweetest person anyone could meet. Nothing will ever take away the pain caused by this senseless act. Time will never heal our loss – not a day goes by we don’t think of her and the huge hole left behind.”
They also praised the police, saying, “We would like to thank the officers for their tireless work, investigation and support.”
Fatal Assault After Relationship Breakdown
The night of the attack began with warning signs after Steph’s co-workers received troubling messages from her phone. Emergency crews found her with fatal stab wounds in her Mapperley home on Westdale Lane West at 10:07pm. Despite efforts by paramedics, Steph was pronounced dead shortly after 11pm.
A post-mortem revealed a fatal neck wound and defensive injuries on her arms, confirming the savage nature of the assault.
Ex-Boyfriend Arrested After Attempted Escape
Steph’s killer, 40-year-old Adedapo Adegbola, her former colleague and ex-boyfriend, was charged with murder following the bloody attack. Evidence showed he discarded Steph’s phone, keys, and bloodied clothing across Mapperley and Carlton in a failed attempt to cover his tracks.
Adegbola stayed at the scene until 4:30am, then travelled by taxi between Nottinghamshire and Hull before handing himself in at Oxclose Lane Police Station by 9am the next day. He refused to comment during police interviews.
Life Sentence for Murderer Who “Took Away Her Future”
Despite his silence, Adegbola pleaded guilty to murder at Nottingham Crown Court on 26 January. Judge Shant KC condemned his actions, saying: “What you did was take the life of a young girl who was compassionate. The devastation to her family and friends is profound. She was in the prime of her life – you took away her future.”
On 5 February, Adegbola was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 25 years behind bars.
