We are providing live coverage of the sentencing of Adedapo Adegbola, 40, following his admission of the "brutal and planned" murder of 23-year-old student Stephanie Irons. Adegbola, a former colleague who became obsessed with the victim after their brief romance ended, ambushed her in her own home before fleeing on a cross-country escape.
The court has heard harrowing details of how Adegbola forced entry into the Mapperley flat and spent nearly two hours inside, ultimately targeting the victim’s jugular vein with a knife he had purchased days earlier. Judge Nirmal Shant KC is presiding over the hearing, which has seen the courtroom filled with uniformed police officers as a mark of respect for the victim’s mother, a former officer herself.
Key Events
Written by Jason King and edited by Emily Beach live from Nottingham Crown Court ⬇️
11:33 am
🔴 'SHE WAS IN THE PRIME OF HER LIFE AND YOUR ACTIONS TOOK AWAY HER FUTURE'
Passing a life sentence with a minimum term of 25 years, Judge Shant KC told the defendant: "You had been in a short relationship and your controlling behaviour led her to end the relationship and what is plain is that you were not prepared to accept that.
Those around you were concerned about your obsession and you clearly planned the killing. You entered her address and what happened thereafter for an hour and 50 minutes is not known, but when you left you locked the door and took the keys.
After killing her you sat on the settee. She had plainly tried to defend herself as she had defence injuries. You then fled to Sheffield, then Hull, then came back and surrendered yourself the following day.
What you did that day was take the life of a young girl who was compassionate and the devastation you have caused to her mother, step-father, friends and others is profound. She was in the prime of her life and your actions took away her future.
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You killed her because she attempted to end the relationship and she was attacked in her own home where she was entitled to feel safe. You left her dead or dying and locked her in her own home."
11:22 am
🔴 DEFENCE: 'HE ACCEPTED WHAT HE HAD DONE'
In mitigation, Mr Thatcher argued: "In surrendering himself to the police he accepted what he had done. The remorse is genuine, some have said his tears were for himself, but he has demonstrated to me the sorrow he feels for Stephanie's mother."
11:18 am
🔴 JUDGE RULES ON 'INTENT TO KILL'
The defense pointed out that Adegbola had no prior criminal record. Mr Thatcher noted: "There was an obvious element of planning as he took the knife to the scene." However, Judge Shant observed: "I take the view that he targeted the jugular and that is what he succeeded in doing. There was an intent to kill."
11:10 am
🔴 'OUR PAIN IS UNIMAGINABLE AND OUR GRIEF WILL BE EVERLASTING'
Stephanie’s step-father, James, shared the family's deep trauma: "Steph had a caring nature she was loved so much for who she was. How could someone do this to Steph?
I went into a tailspin of grief and pain, we were told this happened in Steph's flat and we felt guilt because we helped her find it a few months earlier. My life feels like a very dark place now, we have lost our shining light and I don't know how we'll carry on after this. I will never have any laughs with Steph and will never see her fulfil all those dreams she had. Our pain is unimaginable and our grief will be everlasting."
11:04 am
🔴 'STEPH WAS MY WORLD' — MOTHER'S BRAVE TESTIMONY
Donna Fox, the victim's mother, stood to deliver her impact statement: "Steph was my world and best friend, we had a fantastic relationship, two peas in a pod. I have no words to say about how I lost her in such a horrific way. The pain is all-consuming, I have the same nightmare over and over and I feel sick at the thought of never seeing her again. I have fallen into an abyss and I am still falling.
She lit up a room, she was kind, passionate and caring and only saw the best in people. She never judged, all she ever saw was a person and not a race, colour or religion. She had such a kind heart and now all of it seems pointless. I will never see her marry or become a grandparent and all of this has been taken away. I will never see her laugh again. She was a rounded and wonderful person."
10:56 am
🔴 EVIDENCE OF DEADLY OBSESSION
The prosecution established that the pair were former colleagues whose brief relationship had collapsed. Mr Joyce KC told the court: "Work colleagues said he was acting strangely and that there was tension about the relationship ending and it is clear he was bitter about that. They were seen at work on the morning of October 21 and she later went home and he arrived in a taxi at 5.49pm.
He forced his way into the home and is then caught leaving her home at 7.39pm. He clearly locked the door behind him and he took with him the keys and her phone making his way away from the premises discarding his shoes, his shirt, he got rid of Stephanie's keys, phone and the murder weapon having wiped it clean of her blood and used it on himself in an alleyway.
It is quite plain after killing her he must have sat on the sofa as his footprints were in the blood. It's the prosecution's case that he was obsessed with this woman and could and would not accept this relationship was over."
10:49 am
🔴 FORENSICS REVEAL FATAL KNIFE WOUNDS
The court was told a colleague raised the alarm at 10:30 pm. Mr Joyce detailed the grim discovery: "A police officer looked through a window and saw Steph Irons lying on her back surrounded by blood. There were injuries to her neck, the injuries were devastating.
Police forced entry and paramedics followed and could do nothing to save Stephanie. The right jugular vein had been cut and it was this injury which caused the death. There were also typical defence wound injuries to her arms. The defendant had brought knives from B&M in Daybrook on October 16 and the prosecution's case is that it was a knife he used to later cut himself after he left the premises that he used to kill Stephanie Irons."
10:42 am
🔴 A TRIBUTE FROM THE POLICE SERVICE
Mr Joyce KC noted the high volume of uniformed officers in attendance, explaining it was a tribute to Ms. Irons' mother, who was a police officer. The presence served as a gesture of gratitude to the first responders who attended the murder scene.
10:33 am
🔴 ADEGBOLA APPEARS FROM CUSTODY
Adedapo Adegbola, 40, appeared in the dock wearing a grey tracksuit. He has been in custody since his guilty plea last week.
10:26 am
🔴 COURT CONVENES
Judge Nirmal Shant KC takes her seat as the hearing begins. Family members have gathered in the public gallery to witness the sentencing.
🔴 WIFE KILLER JAILED FOR LIFE: THE CARDIFF STABBING FRENZY
