Man pleads guilty to murder of Plymouth teenager Bobbi-Anne McLeod
24-year-old Cody Ackland from the Southway area of the city is due to be sentenced in May
Last updated 5th Apr 2022
A man has pleaded guilty to the murder of 18-year-old Plymouth student Bobbi-Anne McLeod.
Cody Ackland, 24, entered the plea during a plea and trial preparation hearing at Plymouth Crown Court on Tuesday (5th April).
Ackland spoke only to confirm his name and date of birth and admit murdering the teenager on a date between November 19th and 23rd.
Prosecutor Richard Posner asked for the sentencing hearing to be adjourned due to outstanding pathology reports to be served.
Close family members of the teenager, including her mother, father and brother, sat in the courtroom while friends watched proceedings on a video link from an adjacent court.
Judge Robert Linford adjourned sentencing until May 19th and remanded Ackland, from the Southway area of the city, into custody.
The judge told him: "You have pleaded guilty to murder for which the sentence is fixed by law.
"I shall sentence you on May 19. The sentence will be a sentence of imprisonment for life.
"The only issue will be the minimum term which I must impose pursuant to Schedule 21 of the Sentencing Act 2020.
"You will be remanded into custody until that date and you may go down".
The judge also thanked the public for the "commendable way you have once again behaved during proceedings".
Student Miss McLeod was last seen waiting at a bus stop in Plymouth on the evening of Saturday November 20th last year, as she set off to meet friends.
Her body was found three days later near the beach at Bovisand, about seven miles from where she lived.
Police said there was "no known link" between Miss McLeod and Ackland.
During an opening inquest held last year no cause of death for the teenager was given.
In the aftermath of Miss McLeod’s disappearance, a friend told the PA news agency that she believed the victim "didn’t have a clue" who her attacker or attackers were.
She said her Airpod headphones and tobacco had been found at the bus stop where she was last seen.
"The fact Bobbi’s Airpods and baccy were at the bus stop, that shows she would have struggled", the friend said.
A candlelit vigil was also held at the spot where the teenager was last seen alive.
Her mother, Donna McLeod, attended and was visibly distressed during the vigil but was able to thank the crowd for all the love and support her family had received.
"Thank you for doing everything to try and find her and bring our baby home", she said.
One boy at the vigil, aged 16, had known Ms McLeod while she was still at the same school.
He said: "I hadn’t seen her for ages and I feel really bad about that, but we used to hang around together at school.
"She was just sweet, just nice, I think that’s why it’s hit me so hard, not that anyone deserves this, but it’s just awful that it happened to her".
Following Ackland's guilty plea, Alison Hernandez, Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, says she is pleased the case will be concluded swiftly and hopes the family of Bobbi-Anne McLeod will be able to get the answers they need concerning this hugely troubling case.
The Commissioner said: "I can’t even start to imagine the pain that Bobbi-Anne McLeod’s family and friends have been through over these past few months.
"While there is no justice that can bring Bobbi-Anne back, I’m pleased this case will be concluded swiftly and I truly hope the family will get the answers they need to provide some closure on this terrible incident.
"I’d like to thank the police for their hard work in bringing Cody Ackland to justice. I’d also like to thank the community of Plymouth who have shown courage, empathy and incredible support during this dark time for the city.
"If you have been affected by this case and want to speak to someone, you can contact Victim Support on 0808 1689111 or the Devon and Cornwall Victim Care Unit on 01392 475900".