Cody Ackland has been told he will be imprisoned for life.
A 24-year-old rock musician has admitted murdering Bobbi-Anne McLeod, who disappeared from a bus stop in Devon last year.
Cody Ackland pleaded guilty to murdering the 18-year-old at a short hearing on Tuesday.
McLeod was last seen alive waiting for a bus near her home in Plymouth, Devon, on 20 November 2021.
A large search was carried out when she didn’t arrive at the other end to meet her boyfriend. A pouch of tobacco and her headphones were found at the bus stop. At the time, women living in Plymouth and Devon said they were terrified to leave their homes.
McLeod’s body was subsequently found the following Tuesday evening, 10 miles away near the beach at Bovisand.
Ackland’s sentencing has been adjourned until next month, with judge Robert Linford telling him he would be imprisoned for life.
He told the defendant: “You have pleaded guilty to murder, which has a sentence fixed by law. I will sentence you to imprisonment for life and the only issue will be the minimum term I must impose,” he told Ackland. “You will be remanded in custody until that date and you may now go down.”
Ackland will be sentenced at Plymouth Crown Court on May 19.
Members of Ackland’s band, Bar Rakuda, released a statement that read: “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.”
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