Indie band guitarist, 24, ADMITS murdering teenager Bobbi-Anne McLeod, 18, in Plymouth last year
Indie band guitarist, 24, ADMITS murdering Bobbi-Anne McLeod, 18, after snatching the teenager at random from a bus stop in Plymouth just minutes after she left her home to meet her boyfriend
Cody Ackland, 24, today pleaded guilty in Plymouth Crown Court to murdering Bobbi-Anne in NovemberAckland – a guitarist in a local indie band – snatched her from a bus stop before hiding her body near a beach Bobbi-Anne’s disappearance prompted a huge search and her phone and headphones found abandonedArrogant killer Ackland was said to have revelled in ‘boozy rocker’ image and thought he was ‘lad about town’
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An indie band guitarist this morning admitted murdering 4’11’ tall teenager Bobbi-Anne McLeod after kidnapping her from a Plymouth bus stop four minutes from her home last year.
Student Bobbi-Anne’s devastated family sobbed as musician Cody Ackland, 24, told the city’s crown court he killed the 18-year-old before dumping her body near the beach at Bovisand on November 23 last year.
Ackland – who was a stranger to her – snatched her off the street after she left her house in Leigham at about 6pm on November 20 last year to head into Plymouth to meet boyfriend Louie Leach, 17.
He killed her and tried to hide her in woodland away in a desperate attempt to escape justice. Her bus ticket was never used after he is believed to have got her into his car.
Police were able to trace her phone but could not pinpoint where in the city she was.
But a tip-off led them to her body in a wooded area off a lane between Fort Staddon and Bovisand, South Hams in Devon, and her murderer.
Despite extensive work by the coroner it is still not known how she was killed.
Today her family and friends’ very worst fears were realised as Ackland confessed to deliberately killing her in the attack, pleading guilty to the single count of murder.
Judge Robert Linford told Ackland: ‘You have pleaded guilty to murder and the sentence is fixed by law.
‘The sentence is imprisonment for life and the only issue will be the mimimum term I will impose.’
Arrogant killer Cody Ackland was said to have revelled in ‘boozy rocker’ image and thought he was ‘lad about town’
Bobbi-Anne McLeod’s disappearance prompted a huge search and her phone and headphones were found abandoned
She had been waiting at this bus stop – just minutes from her home – when she was snatched and murdered by Ackland
Cody Ackland, 24, who lives in central Plymouth with his mother and played in popular local band Rakuda, at an early hearing
Ackland’s four-piece band were named after Bar Rakuda, a venue in the centre of the city which they regularly frequented
Police believed she had been abducted but the prosecution said it would not seek a trial on a charge of kidnap due to the guilty plea to murder
Bobbi-Anne’s parents and other family members sat next to police officers just a few feet from the enclosed glass fronted dock where Ackland sat surrounded by security staff.
Her murderer was born in Germany, where his father, 53 is believed to have served in the British Army. His parents are separated but live close to each other in Plymouth.
The killer had previously been in a band called Rakuda – named after a bar in the city – who disbanded after he was charged.
Ackland and his fellow bandmates, who had described their influences as Kasabian and Oasis, had built up a cult following.
The search for Bobbi-Anne sparked a massive police hunt after she vanished waiting for a bus just four minutes from home
Bobbie-Anne McLeod was last seen waiting at a bus stop in Plymouth on the evening of Saturday November 20 last year
Police said at the time there was ‘no known link between the suspect and the victim’, who was 4’11’ tall and of slight build
They had released a number of songs on Spotify with titles such as: ‘I want to enter your soul; Atomic Woman;’ and ‘Where do I go?’ as well as an EP played on local BBC radio.
Social media pictures of Ackland, who went to Estover Community College in Plymouth, showed him downing pints between songs.
The killer also appeared to revel in the image of a booze filled rocker, with one associate claiming at the time of his arrest: ‘He’s a good-looking bloke and fancies himself as a bit of a lad.’
Separately Josh Greenless, lead singer of Rakuda also told MailOnline in November: ‘The first I heard about this was when police started searching Cody’s house.
‘He’s a big part of our band and it’s all a bit shocking.’
Rakuda announced it was disbanding last year, writing on Facebook: ‘The remaining members of Rakuda; Josh, Ross, Josh and Mike are all extremely shocked and in complete disbelief by the tragic event that has unfolded over the last several days.
‘Our thoughts and prayers are with Bobbi-Anne McLeod’s family and friends who must be devastated at their loss.
‘As a mark of respect, we have decided that we shall not be going forward as a band and will be disbanding with immediate effect. We will not be making any further comments at this time.’
Bobbi-Anne lived in a three-bedroom terrace house on a 1970s housing estate in the Leigham area of Plymouth, which is made up of a mix of council and private homes.
She attended Leigham Primary School and then Tor Bridge High School and was not believed to be working at the time of her death.
Her disappearance happened as she was on her way to meet her boyfriend Louie in Plymouth.
At the time one of her friends said he was being comforted by her family.
A man lights candles on the ground in the shape of a heart near to where the teenager disappeared on November 20 last year
Police carry out a search of the hill behind Sheepstor Road bus stop on November 25, 2021, where she had last been seen
The 18-year-old’s family has been informed and are being supported by specialist officers, Devon and Cornwall Police said
Bobbi-Anne was reported missing on Saturday evening and was found dead on Tuesday close to the coastal path and car park above Bovisand beach
Louie Leach, 17, Bobbi-Anne’s grieving boyfriend was comforted by her family after her body was found by investigators
They said in November: ‘Louie is with Bobbi-Anne’s family now and they are helping each other through this difficult time.
‘They can barely speak. There are no words for the horror they are living through.
‘Bobbi-Anne and Louie were really in love and were a wonderful couple.
‘They had their whole lives ahead of them and now this has been cruelly taken away from Louie and it’s crushed him.’
Assistant Chief Constable Nikki Leaper said this morning: ‘We note the guilty plea entered at court today by Cody Ackland for the murder of Bobbi-Anne McLeod.
‘We now await sentencing of Ackland at a later date by HH Judge Linford.
‘Our thoughts remain with the McLeod family and those close to Bobbi-Anne who have had a daughter, sister and friend so cruelly taken from them.’
