Man Jailed for Life for Murder of Victoria Adams
Judge says that her killer betrayed her 'kindness and good nature'
Victoria Adams. Picture: Met Police. Coulter Road. Picture: Google Streetview
October 31, 2025
A man has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Victoria Adams, a 37-year-old mother of four, who was found dead in her flat after offering shelter to a man she had met days earlier at a homeless centre.
Apapale Adoum, 39, pleaded guilty to murder and was sentenced at the Old Bailey to a minimum term of 21 years. The court heard that Ms Adams had invited Adoum to stay at her home on Coulter Road in Brackenbury Village on 7 February 2025, after meeting him at a shelter and believing he could offer protection from individuals she feared were threatening her.
Two days later, on 9 February, Adoum attacked Ms Adams with a mallet after she reportedly asked him to leave. Emergency services were called following reports of a man attempting to re-enter the property. Police discovered Ms Adams deceased in her bedroom, with multiple head injuries and a bin bag placed over her head.
Judge Nigel Lickley KC described the attack as “brutal and savage,” stating that Adoum had “betrayed the kindness and good nature” of Ms Adams. The court was told that Adoum had a history of violent offences, including previous assaults on women and prison staff, and had been released from custody in July 2024.
During the investigation, police recovered CCTV footage, digital data, and forensic evidence linking Adoum to the scene. A mallet with traces of the victim’s blood was found in his possession, and his fingerprint was identified on the bin bag. Bloodstains in the kitchen sink suggested an attempt to clean the weapon.
Apapale Adoum. Picture: Met Police
Prosecutor John Price KC said the attack occurred in the context of Adoum’s unpredictable behaviour and Ms Adams’s growing fear. At the time of arrest, Adoum was carrying knives and a screwdriver.
In victim impact statements, Ms Adams’s family described her as generous, caring, and devoted to her children. Her sister Sophie Luff said, “She didn’t deserve this—no one does,” and expressed heartbreak that her children would grow up without their mother.
Detective Chief Inspector Matt Denby, who led the investigation, said, “I hope that Adoum’s admission of guilt and long sentence is a small reprieve for Victoria’s family and friends.
“It is a tragedy that she was killed by Adoum after offering him a place to stay, and showing him kindness during his time of need. Victoria deserved better.
“Adoum’s plea is testament to the officers, who worked incredibly hard to build the evidence against him, leaving no doubt he was responsible for Victoria’s death.”
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