Sean “Diddy” Combs has been jailed for more than four years on prostitution-related chargesHe was convicted of flying people across the US for sexual encounters he called “freak-offs”, including his girlfriends and male sex workers.
As well as the 50 months, he has been hit with a $500,000 (£371k) fine.While Combs, 55, fought for a much shorter sentence of 14 months behind bars, prosecutors initially pushed for 11 years in his sex trafficking trial.
This evening, he was sentenced in Manhattan. His sentencing also saw Combs speak publicly for the first time in 13 months, fumbling his words before checking over his notes. Standing, Combs thanked the court and US District Judge Arun Subramanian, who oversaw his seven-week trial, for ‘giving [him] the chance to finally speak.
‘One of the hardest things I’ve had to handle is having to be quiet—not being able to express how sorry I am for my actions,’. He became incredibly emotional during his sentencing:
Combs further said the trial has ‘humbled’ him, leaving him ‘broken to his core’.‘I hate myself right now. I’ve been stripped down for nothing. I really, truly am sorry for it all, no matter what they say.’
As he handed down the sentencing, the judge condemned Combs for his ‘savage’ abuse of ex-girlfriend Ventura. He said he was making an example of him after he caused ‘irreparable harm’ to his victims.
‘Deterrence requires a significant sentence’, he said, explaining that he was not convinced Combs would not commit the same crimes again should he be released.
