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

After killing 14-year-old Viktorija Sokolova the youth dumped her body on a park bench in Wolverhampton.

During a three-week trial at Wolverhampton crown court he denied any wrongdoing, but was unanimously convicted of the murder by a jury on 14 December last year.

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

Detectives believe the boy used a hammer, which has never been found, to launch what prosecutors called 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 late on 11 April last year after being contacted by her killer on Facebook Messenger.

Following 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 to be suffering from learning difficulties – initially denied even meeting Viktorija.