The teenager believed she would be beaten to death with a hammer the rapist was carrying.

The devastating effects on the girl were revealed after the 17-year-old boy responsible, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was found guilty of four counts of rape.

Prosecutor Christine Egerton read a victim impact statement from the girl to Sheffield Crown Court.

The girl said her life had been going well before the attack - she was happy at home, had many friends, and was doing well at school, being in the top set for all her classes.

She added: "Even on the day of the attack I felt things were good as I was going to meet a boy that I liked."

But while she was waiting, the attacker - wearing a ski mask - approached her on the train tracks near Brunswick Road, Burngreave. He pulled out the hammer and threatened her, demanding she follow him, before taking off his clothes and ordering her to do the same before raping her.

The girl said: "This was the scariest thing that had ever happened to me in my life.

"I can't explain the feelings I was going through, and it was very painful. His eyes were very still and cold and I was very scared. To say that, only scratches the surface of my emotions on that day. I really thought he was going to hit me with the hammer and I was going to die."

She added: "I was horrified and could not believe someone would put someone else through something like that."

The girl spoke of her initial confusion about what had happened and whether she should tell someone and of her agonising wait for the results of a series of tests for sexually transmitted infections.

She said she could not sleep at night - with all her dreams taking her back to the attack - to the point where she was eventually prescribed sleeping tablets which she still takes.

Problems at school - where she felt isolated from her friends because she had not told them what had happened - followed, and she said she now feels scared about going to places on her own.

She said: "I am very angry at what he has done to me.

"He has changed my life forever and taken something from me that I can never get back. It was a calculated, prolonged and brutal attack, which also took my pride and my dignity."

The jury was also told about the boy's previous convictions for robbing two young girls of a mobile phone, during which he told them they could have the phone back if they gave him oral sex.

He has also pleaded guilty to two counts of robbery and being in breach of the youth referral order imposed for the earlier attacks.

Adjourning sentencing for reports His Honour Judge Simon Lawler QC said: "You are a very dangerous young offender and you will be subjected to a lengthy period of custody."

READ MORE
Main news index
More Rotherham news
More Doncaster news
More Barnsley news
Your letters.
Features
Check out the very latest on South Yorkshire's roads - including live traffic cameras on Sheffield's commuter routes - with our Traffic section
Latest sport.