MORNING EDITION: Woman charged after investigation into Stephanie Irons stab murder in Mapperley

Good morning 🌅 and welcome to Wednesday! Here's today's email updating you on the latest news and information from across Gedling borough. Have a great day. Look out for another update tomorrow morning.

Woman charged following investigation into murder of 'bright young star' Stephanie Irons in Mapperley

Police have now charged a woman following the investigation into the murder of Stephanie Irons in Mapperley.

Emergency services found the 23-year-old in the living room of her home on Westdale Lane on October 21, 2005 after concerns were raised about her safety by co-workers. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Stephanie's former colleague Adedapo Adegbola, 40, pleaded guilty to her murder last month. Adegbola of Woodborough Road, Mapperley, is due to be sentenced tomorrow (5).

Police yesterday announced Mary Onolunosen, of Leeming Street, Mansfield, has now been charged with assisting an offender. The 40-year-old is due to appear at Nottingham Magistrates' Court on March 6.

Detective Inspector Stuart Barson, lead investigator of the case, said: “This is a truly horrific incident, and Steph’s family and friends continue to be supported by our officers.

“Our team of investigators have worked extremely hard over the last few months on this case, and I am pleased we have now been able to charge a second suspect in relation to this investigation.”.

Miss Irons' family previously paid tribute to the "bright young star," saying: "Steph had an infectious smile and laugh which lit up any room she walked into." They described her as a "beautiful, loving and caring daughter, sister, niece, cousin and friend" with "a huge heart."

Appeal made after restaurant worker threatened in Mapperley by diner not wanting to pay

Police have issued an image of a man they would like to speak to after a diner left a restaurant without paying. 

It was reported a customer at a Mapperley restaurant refused to pay his bill and also threatened to kick a member of staff when challenged. 

Officers say they have 'pursued a number of enquiries' in an effort to identify the man in the image since the incident on October 30, 2025, as they believe he can assist the investigation. 

Sergeant Liz Johnson, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: "We are now appealing for the public’s help. 

“Making off without payment harms businesses and there can be no excuse for threatening staff with violence. 

“We are keen to speak to this man about the incident and would ask him, or anyone who recognises him, to come forward.” 

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 quoting 25*642769. 

Rural crime concerns raised at meeting between councillors and police boss

There are concerns rural areas of the borough are being neglected by the police as officers are ‘pulled away’ to oversee football matches and the night-time economy.

Operation Listings was launched in November in a bid to make people feel safer in the city over the festive period, particularly after one high-profile incident where two groups with machetes confronted one another in Old Market Square.

Nottinghamshire Police said it made 92 arrests on suspicion of various offences such as drug dealing, robbery, and possession of bladed articles, while 19 individuals were banned from entering the city centre, more than 15 dispersal orders were issued, and around 25 illegal e-bikes were seized.

However at a Police and Crime Panel meeting on Monday (February 2) a senior Conservative councillor on Rushcliffe Borough Council said he felt extra resources were needed to tackle rural crime.

Commissioner Godden admitted work to combat rural crime was not perfect, and said he would sit down with the chief constable to talk about resources.

Speaking after the meeting Cllr Jonathan Wheeler said: “I want officer numbers at the levels we are supposed to have at the very least, and this assurance was not given.”

Thirteen percent of the Nottinghamshire Police’s workforce is now dedicated to neighbourhood policing roles, marking one of the highest proportions across all police forces in England and Wales. This model also operates to tackle rural crime, which differs from what some other police forces do across the country.

Responding to his concerns at the meeting, commissioner Godden said: “Rural crime in Nottinghamshire in terms of the model we offer, from the NFU we offer the best model in the country, that is from their words.

“Our model is based in neighbourhood policing. Our neighbourhood teams are based in the area. You don’t have a team of four or five, you have a team of maybe one or two but they specialise in rural crime and rural activity.

“I think the model that we offer is very different to the norm, I think it delivers very local results, is it perfect? No. Could I do with putting more in there? Yes. Is there a demand for that? Definitely. So it is very much on my radar but it is about balancing and I would like to see in the long run if we could improve our offer even more.”

It comes as all but one councillor – Cllr Wheeler – voted for a five percent rise in the policing precept from this April.

JOE LOCKER - LOCAL DEMOCRACY REPORTER

These are some of the great films playing at the Bonington in Arnold during January and February

A great selection of Hollywood blockbusters are coming to our very own local cinema in Arnold over the next month…

Hamnet (12A)
Fri 30 January - Thu 12 February

The imagined inspiration story for William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, this powerful tale of love, loss and grief stars Paul Mescal (Shakespeare) and Jessie Buckley (Agnes Hathaway), the haunting yet inspiring tale envisions how the anguish caused by the death of their 11-year-old son is transformed into the Bard’s greatest tragic play. 

H is for Hawk (12A)
Sun 8 - Thu 19 February

Grieving for the loss of her father, Cambridge-based historian, writer and illustrator Helen (Claire Foy) adopts stubborn goshawk Mabel, and begins to reconnect with her own needs and emotions as she teaches the bird of prey to hunt independently.

Event Cinema: The Royal Ballet: Woolf Works (Cert TBC)
Mon 9 February at 7.15pm

Choreographer Wayne McGregor leads a luminous artistic team to evoke Virginia Woolf’s signature stream of consciousness writing style in this immense work that rejects traditional narrative structures. Created in 2015 for The Royal Ballet, this Olivier-award winning ballet triptych captures the heart of Woolf’s uniquely artistic spirit.

The Spongebob Movie: Search for Squarepants (PG)
Sat 14 - Wed 18 February

Our plucky hero descends from Bikini Bottom to the underworld aboard mysterious ghost pirate ship The Flying Dutchman to prove his courage and daring to Mr. Krabs. This comedy-adventure includes all your favourite characters from the anarchic Nickelodeon show.

Marty Supreme (15)
Sat 14 - Tue 17 February

Timothée Chalamet plays Marty Mauser, a roguish US table tennis champ with his eyes singularly set on becoming the world champion in a film loosely inspired by the exploits of Marty “The Needle” Reisman.

It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley (CERT TBC)
Sat 14 - Sun 15 February

It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley documents the career of the pioneering alt rock singer-songwriter before his tragic early death. Renowned for his ethereal voice and idiosyncratic style, Buckley released just one masterpiece record Grace before accidentally drowning in the Mississippi River.

Also playing...

R.E.M. X Buster Keaton’s Sherlock Jr. (12A)
Sat 14 - Sun 15 February 

Big Hero 6 (PG) + Meet The Robots!
Fri 20 February at 1:30pm

28 Years Later: The Bone Temple
Fri 20 - Tue 24 February

The Scarecrow’s Wedding (U)
Sat 21 - Sun 22 February at 10:30am

Zootropolis 2 (PG)
Sat 21 - Tue 24 February

Dance Party Screening: The Rolling Stones and Jake Bugg
Sat 21 February from 6.30pm
The Rolling Stones: Welcome to Shepherd’s Bush (1999)
Jake Bugg: Live at the Royal Albert Hall (2014)

Is This Thing On? (15)
Sun 22 - Thu 26 Feb

The Voice of Hind Rajab (15)
Mon 23 - Wed 25 February

National Theatre Live: The Audience (PG)
Thu 26 February - Fri 13 March

100 Nights of Hero
Fri 27 February - Tue 3 March at 4.30pm

TICKETS FOR SHOWINGS CAN BE BOUGHT HERE

🌤️ WEATHER UPDATE

Saving you the effort of having to look out the window...

An extensively cloudy start, with some icy patches possible. It will soon become dry, however cloudy conditions may persist for many, with some limited late brighter spells possible. Tonight it will become overcast with rain moving slowly into the area by the morning. Winds will be light and variable. It will turn colder again by dawn.