The parents of murdered Stephanie Irons have shared touching words after her killer was locked up for life with a minimum of 25 years.
Irons was fatally assaulted at her address in Mapperley on the evening of Tuesday, October 21.
Her parents paid tribute to their daughter following the sentencing.
They said: “We have lost our beautiful daughter and shining light. Nothing will ever take away the pain that has been caused by this senseless act.
“Steph was the kindest, sweetest person anyone could meet, and our lives will never be the same. She touched so many lives with her personality and kind soul.
“While justice will be done, time will never heal our loss. Our family and friends’ lives have changed forever. Not a day will go by where we will not remember Steph, all the good she brought to the world and a huge hole has been left in our lives.
The alarm was raised by Miss Irons’ co-workers after a series of concerning messages were sent to them from her mobile phone that night.
Emergency services were then called to Westdale Lane West, Mapperley, at 10.07pm where they discovered the 23-year-old in her living room with fatal knife wounds.
She was pronounced dead just after 11pm despite the best efforts of paramedics.
A post-mortem investigation later revealed that she died after sustaining a knife wound to her neck. Defensive wounds were also found on her arms.
Adedapo Adegbola, her former work colleague, took her life after their brief relationship ended.
After the knife assault, Adegbola fled to his property in Mansfield, leaving a trail of discarded evidence including his blood-stained trainers and a jumper, as well as Miss Irons’ house keys and mobile phone, on the streets of Mapperley and Carlton.
The 40-year-old remained at the address until around 4.30am the next day (October 22), when he ordered a taxi to Worksop.
From here, he travelled in another taxi to Sheffield, and finally to Hull.
Just before 9am that morning (October 22), he returned to Nottingham and handed himself in at Oxclose Lane 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 murder.
He then pleaded guilty to murder when he appeared at Nottingham Crown Court on Monday, January 26.
Adegbola, formerly of Woodborough Road, Mapperley, was yesterday (5) given life imprisonment with a minimum of 25 years.
Detective Inspector Stuart Barson, lead investigator of the case, said: “Our focus from the very start of this investigation has been to get justice for Steph, her family and friends, and that has been reflected through the results today.
“Adegbola committed a heinous and violent act, and I am pleased he will now spend a very considerable amount of time behind bars.
“Today’s sentence will not bring Steph back, but I hope it gives her family some comfort.”
