A man has pleaded guilty to the murder of teenager Bobbi-Anne McLeod.

Cody Ackland, 24, from Southway, appeared before Plymouth Crown Court this morning.

There was a large-scale search for Miss McLeod, 18, after she went missing on November 20, 2021 - she failed to meet up with friends. She was last seen at a bus stop in Leigham, Plymouth.

The court heard Bobbi-Anne was killed sometime between November 20 and 23. Her body was discovered on November 23 in woodland a short distance from Bovisand Beach.

Ackland will be sentenced in May.

Judge Robert Linford told him he would be imprisoned for life - and the only matter to be considered was a minimum term.

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.”

The judge added: “You will be remanded in custody until that date and you may now go down.”

He thanked the public who attended court for the “commendable way you have behaved during these proceedings.”

Speaking after the hearing, Devon and Cornwall Police’s Assistant Chief Constable Nikki Leaper said: “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.”

Ackland was the lead guitarist in a local indie band Rakuda.

After he was charged, the remaining members of the band released a public statement confirming the band was breaking up.