Plymouth Man Jailed for Life in Brutal Murder of Teen
A Plymouth man has been sentenced to life in prison after the savage murder of 18-year-old Bobbi-Anne McLeod. Cody Ackland, 24, carried out a horrific, prolonged attack fueled by a dark obsession with serial killers. He must serve at least 30 years and 190 days behind bars.
Hammer Attack at Bus Stop
The horror began on the night of November 20 last year in Leigham, Plymouth. Ackland struck Bobbi-Anne on the head with a claw hammer at a bus stop before abducting her. He drove her 19 miles to a remote Dartmoor location where he continued his brutal assault, ultimately murdering her.
After the attack, Ackland dumped Bobbi-Anne’s body in dense undergrowth near Bovisand and callously discarded her clothes in an allotment. Shockingly, he then went out partying with friends.
Dark Obsession with Serial Killers
The court uncovered Ackland’s twisted fascination with infamous serial killers, especially US murderer Ted Bundy. His phone contained numerous grisly images of murder scenes, dead bodies, and post-mortems. In the days before the killing, Ackland researched serial killer crimes and scouted remote areas on Dartmoor, searching for potential weapons.
Senior Crown Advocate Richard Posner said: “His interest in the macabre was deep-rooted—a fascination with death, murder and murderers.”
“Pictures of Ted Bundy and his weapons were found on Ackland’s phone. Bundy’s method of attacking victims in public places neatly mirrored this horrific crime.”
A Family Shattered
Bobbi-Anne left home on that fateful evening for what should have been a normal family day. She never made it to her boyfriend’s place. The community rallied for days, searching frantically after her disappearance was reported.
Three days later, Ackland turned himself into police and led officers to Bobbi-Anne’s body.
Her family said: “Bobbi was beautiful, kind and full of dreams. She wanted to be an interior designer. We have been robbed of our beautiful girl in the worst possible way.”
“Cody Ackland has taken away our world. We will never see her face or hear her laugh again.”
Justice Served
Judge Robert Linford described the killing as “determined savagery.” He confirmed Ackland’s intent to kill and underscored the terrible ordeal Bobbi-Anne endured.
Detective Inspector Stephanie Blundell praised the investigation team and community support but stressed there was no cause for celebration.
“This shocking crime ended a young life and devastated a family and community,” she said. “We hope today’s sentence offers some justice and allows the community to start healing.”
If this story has affected you, support is available. Contact the police at 101 or email [email protected].
