Face of teen rapist, 17, who brutally attacked and murdered schoolgirl, 14, revealed

This is the face of the teen rapist who brutally attacked and murdered a 14-year-old schoolgirl after luring her online.

Ayman Aziz, 17, contacted Viktorija Sokolova online and lured her to a Wolverhampton park, where he subjected her to horrific levels of violence in a two-hour attack before dumping her body on a bench.

He was handed a life sentence and ordered to serve at least 19 years behind bars at Wolverhampton Crown Court in February after being found guilty of her murder.

Aziz could not be identified in reports at the time as reporting restrictions because of his age were imposed.

Although the trial judge agreed to lift those restrictions following an application by news organisations, the teenager’s lawyers challenged that decision and the restrictions remained in place pending an appeal.

Lithuanian-born Viktorija was brutally beaten, raped, and dumped on a park bench in Wolverhampton during a frenzied attack last April

Adam Kane QC argued the reporting restrictions should not be lifted because they would have an adverse effect on Aziz’s rehabilitation.

He also said the teenager, who has been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, has been ‘bullied and threatened’ in detention and has stopped attending educational classes as a result.

But the Lord Chief Justice Lord Burnett and two other senior judges rejected Aziz’s challenge at the Court of Appeal on Thursday, meaning he can now be named.

The judges also rejected an appeal by Aziz, who watched the hearing over a video link from the young offenders’ institution where he is detained, against his minimum term.

The teenager denied any wrongdoing during a three-week trial at Wolverhampton Crown Court but was found guilty by a jury on December 14 last year over the attack on Viktorija.

Viktorija’s last moments as she walked towards the park were captured on CCTV  (pictured)

The 17-year-old was sentenced to life in prison for the brutal hammer-attack murder and rape of 14-year-old Viktorija Sokolova (pictured) 

‘Why are there such terrible people in this world?’ Viktorija’s heart-broken mother’s moving statement 

Pictured: Karolina Valatiniene leaves court

A moving statement from Viktorija’s mother Karolina Valantiniene has been read to the court.

It said: ‘There will never be a Mother’s Day for me again and I have no idea how I will carry on my life now.

‘The time has stopped for me now.

‘Viktorija was the purpose of my life.

‘I wanted to die together with her.

‘I never thought something terrible like this could happen to me.

‘My husband has been a great support for me.

‘I was not able to return to work for long time.

‘ I started taking medication and have been taking it since.

‘Why are there such terrible people in this world?’

Lithuanian-born Viktorija – described in court by her mother as her ‘one and only’ – was contacted by Aziz on Facebook Messenger and lured to Wolverhampton’s West Park late on April 11 2018.

She was savagely beaten in a pavilion before being dragged 150 yards to a bench, where her body was later discovered by a dog walker.

Sentencing Aziz, Mr Justice Jeremy Baker said the teenager carried out the ‘truly shocking’ attack after watching pornography and carrying out internet research.

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

Detectives believe he used a hammer, which has never been found, to launch the assault on his victim – who suffered a fractured skull, brain injuries and shattered vertebrae.

Throughout his trial, Aziz showed no remorse, gave no evidence in his defence and simply nodded as he was ordered by the judge to be taken to the cells.

In a victim impact statement, Viktorija’s mother Karolina Valantiniene said her daughter had ‘many beautiful plans for the future’ – learning how to drive, finishing school – and she had spoken of ‘buying her a beautiful prom dress’.

She added: ‘Many times, I’ve asked why are there such terrible people on the Earth.

‘To realise you don’t have your child any more, and never will again. Because she was my one and only daughter.

‘Someone dared to raise his hand against her and take her away from me. Why?’

Lord Burnett said full reasons for the Court of Appeal’s decision will be given at a later date.