Viktorija Sokolova: Teenager jailed for life for 'ferocious' rape and murder of 14-year-old girl

Detectives believe the boy used a hammer to launch what has been described as a 'ferocious and sustained' attack

14-year-old Viktorija Sokolova (West Midlands Police)

A teenager who launched a "ferocious and sustained" attack on a schoolgirl as he raped and murdered her has been jailed for life.

The 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, used horrific levels of violence to kill 14-year-old Viktorija Sokolova before dumping her body on a park bench in Wolverhampton, a court heard.

Detectives believe he used a hammer to launch what prosecutors called a "ferocious and sustained" attack on the victim, who suffered a fractured skull and spine. However, the weapon has never been found.

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

Jurors were told the youth was caught on CCTV as he attempted to cover up the offence by hiding clothing, deleting Facebook messages and hurling his victim's phone towards a lake.

The boy denied any wrongdoing and claimed he had never met Viktorija during a three-week trial.

He had refused to give evidence and claimed to suffer from learning difficulties.

But he was nonetheless unanimously convicted by a jury in December.

Now he has been sentenced to life and ordered to serve a minimum term of 19 years.

Additional reporting from agencies