UK-based Adedapo Adegbola pleads guilty to murder of British ex-girlfriend

Adedapo Adegbola, a Nigerian national living in the United Kingdom, has pleaded guilty to the murder of his British ex-girlfriend, Steph Irons, at Nottingham Crown Court.

Adegbola, 40, admitted that he stabbed Ms Irons to death at her home on Westdale Lane West, Mapperley, on October 21, 2025. Prosecutors told the court that after the attack, he left her bleeding in the living room and fled the scene.

The court heard that Adegbola and Ms Irons were colleagues before entering a romantic relationship, which later ended. The circumstances that led to the stabbing remain unclear, as Adegbola declined to answer questions during police interviews.

According to investigators, Adegbola made no attempt to seek medical help for Ms Irons after the attack. Instead, he focused on leaving the area and disposing of evidence. Blood-stained sneakers recovered near the scene were later linked to him.

“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,” said Detective Inspector Stuart Barson.

Neighbours could not determine the exact time of the stabbing. Ms Irons’ body was discovered in the apartment’s living room at about 10 p.m. Paramedics pronounced her dead shortly after arriving.

Adegbola later turned himself in at Oxclose Police Station but refused to cooperate with detectives during questioning.

“Although he initially turned himself in, he went on to provide no comment in police interviews,” Detective Inspector Barson said. “However, the evidence compiled against him left him with no option but to plead guilty.”

Investigators relied on forensic evidence, including bloodstains, CCTV footage, witness accounts, and digital records, to build the case presented at Nottingham Crown Court.

Ms Irons held bachelor’s and master’s degrees in clinical psychology and was applying for a doctoral programme at the time of her death.

Detective Inspector Barson expressed sympathy to her family, saying he hoped the guilty plea would help them begin to come to terms with their loss.

Adegbola will be sentenced on February 5.