Viktorija Sokolova: Teen who brutally raped and murdered 14-year-old gets life term

A 17-year-old boy has been detained for at least 19 years for the brutal rape and murder of a teenage girl.

The youth used horrific levels of violence to kill 14-year-old Viktorija Sokolova before dumping her body on a park bench.

He denied any wrongdoing during a three-week trial but was unanimously convicted by a jury on December 14 last year over the attack.

At the same court on Friday, he was sentenced to life and ordered to serve a minimum term of 19 years.

Mr Justice Jeremy Baker, sentencing, said: "The offences committed were extraordinarily serious.

"The deliberate targeting of a vulnerable young girl, she was lured, at night - the defendant armed with a weapon - where she was subject to a truly shocking attack."

Wolverhampton Crown Court heard the boy used a hammer to carry out a "ferocious and sustained" attack on the victim, who suffered a fractured skull and spine.

Jurors heard that Lithuanian-born Viktorija was lured to West Park in Wolverhampton late on April 11 last year after being contacted by her killer on Facebook Messenger.

After the killing, the youth was caught on CCTV as he attempted to cover up the offence by hiding clothing, having deleted Facebook messages and hurled his victim's phone towards a lake.

The boy, who refused to give evidence claiming he suffered from learning difficulties, initially denied even meeting Viktorija.