SEAN "Diddy" Combs has been jailed for over 4 years after he was found guilty on two prostitution charges.
The disgraced music mogul, 55, was facing a maximum of 20 years behind bars but has been handed down a 50-month jail term despite a last minute plea for freedom.
He has also been fined £370,000 ($500,000) – the maximum amount possible under the convictions.
Combs has already served about 13 months worth of time behind bars which will be subtracted off his total time served.
But Manhattan Judge Arun Subramanian also sentenced him to five years of supervised release once he gets out of prison.
Addressing Combs before delivering his decision, Subramanian said he abused his girlfriends "physically, emotionally and psychologically".
The judge said: "You had the money and the power to keep it going.
"This was subjugation and it led to Ms Ventura and Jane to thoughts of ending their lives."
During the remarks Combs stood like a statue and did not move for a minute.
He then lifted his head up and stared ahead.
Speaking in the New York court today before he was sentenced, an emotional Combs said: "I have been humbled and broken to my core.
"I hate myself right now, I've been stripped down to nothing."
He apologised to former girlfriends Cassie and the anonymous 'Jane' and even apologised to all victims of domestic violence.
The disgraced mogul said he was "sick from drugs", "out of control" and that he got "lost in my excess and lost in my ego".
Lawyers representing Cassie released a statement on behalf of the musician following the announcement.
It reads: "While nothing can undo the trauma caused by Combs, the sentence imposed today recognises the impact of the serious offences he committed.
"We are confident that with the support of her family and friends, Ms. Ventura will continue healing knowing that her bravery and fortitude have been an inspiration to so many."
Combs had begged Judge Subramanian for mercy in a four-page apology letter ahead of the sentencing.
He apologised "for all of the hurt and pain that I have caused".
Adding that he is now a reformed man following over a year of being incarcerated in a Brooklyn jail.
Combs wrote: "I literally lost my mind. I'm sorry for that and always will be.
Judge Subramanian's remarks
"You abused the power and control you had over the lives of women you professed to love dearly.
"You abused them, physically, emotionally and you used that abused to get your way, especially when it came to Freak Offs.
"The video of the abuse in contact with Freak Offs is massive.
"I was sitting right here for the testimony of Ms Ventura and Jane… we read about it in text messages and emails.
"We saw it in the images of gashes, bruises, broken doors and we saw the video of your savage beating of Ms Ventura.
"This was subjugation and it led to Ms Ventura and Jane to thoughts of ending their lives.
"That's the reality of what happened.
"These were serious offences that irreparably harmed two women… you plied Ms Ventura and Jane with drugs… the conduct occurred for over a decade and with tremendous frequency over that time period.
"Why did it happen so long? Because you had the power and the resources to keep it going and because you weren't caught.
"You were no John, you were more than that even if you currency was satisfying you sexual desires more than money but the coercion was the same, if not worse.
"The court is not assured if released those crimes will not occur again.
"This is hard time in prison away from your family, friends, children and community.
"You will have a life afterwards."
"My domestic violence will always be a heavy burden that I will have to forever carry."
He was referencing an assault on his ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, which formed part of the bombshell trial.
In his grovelling letter, Combs blamed his actions on drugs.
"I lost my way. My downfall was rooted in my selfishness. I have been humbled and broken to my core," he penned.
"The old me died in jail and a new version of me was born. Prison will change you or kill you – I choose to live."
Ms Ventura had also sent a letter to the judge saying she feared Combs walking free as he would want "swift retribution".
She said: "He has no interest in changing or becoming better. He will always be the same cruel, power-hungry, manipulative man that he is."
Back in July, Combs was the focus of a shocking near eight-week trial around his criminal actions across decades in the music industry.
He was convicted of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution.
But acquitted of his most serious charges of racketeering and sex trafficking – meaning he avoided a much lengthier sentence.
He will always be the same cruel, power-hungry, manipulative man that he is
Cassie Ventura
The shamed music executive fell to his knees in prayer after the jury foreperson read the stunning verdict to the courtroom on July 2.
Combs' defense team delivered a post-verdict victory speech to reporters outside the US District Courthouse, calling the outcome a "great victory for the jury system."
Marc Agnifilo said the 12-person jury "got the situation right – or certainly, right enough."
"We are not nearly done fighting. We're not going to stop until he walks out of prison a free man to his family," he added.
As Combs was found guilty on transportation to engage in prostitution the prosecution had recommended he faced 11 years behind bars.
They cited Combs' history of physical and mental abuse of his ex-girlfriends and employees who took the stand against him.
His legal team argued a two-year sentence would be more appropriate.
Combs could have been released later this month if he was handed the lowest sentence after already serving 13 months behind bars.
How $10m case against Diddy collapsed after prosecutors got greedy
BY Georgie English, Foreign News Reporter
MANY had believed the disgraced music mogul would be given life in prison over racketeering and sex trafficking charges back in July.
But when the verdicts were read out Combs fell to his knees in glee after being acquitted of the two most damaging allegations.
The New York jury did find the Bad Boy rapper, 55, guilty on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution.
But with each count carrying just a maximum 10-year prison sentence and no minimum, Combs' legal team sighed a breath of relief in the courtroom.
As arguably the trial of the century kicked off earlier this year many had thought Combs had next to no chance of getting off so lightly.
The majority of federal cases end in a conviction and with "freak off" revelations, baby oil hauls and disturbing claims all being made public at trial, the case seemed simple to most.
But as the final judgments were made and Combs mouthed to his family he'll be "home soon", questions emerged around how he escaped a severe punishment.
Many believed the fault lies with the prosecution for aiming too high with their charges.
They lobbied for a complicated racketeering case that is typically reserved for the most high profile mob bosses.
The burden of proof needed to convict a criminal on such charges will always be tough to reach due to the repercussions of life behind bars.
And as the prosecution scrambled to keep the music producer locked up with a myriad of witnesses and claims, the defence simply played down the seriousness of Combs' crimes.
Combs' defence had always remained firm in their admission of some form of guilt from the very start of the trial.
His lawyer Teny Geragos made an extraordinary admission in her opening statement in court as she described Combs as a domestic abuser with a vicious temper.
Geragos put it on the first day: "It is evidence of domestic violence. But it is not evidence of sex trafficking."
As the trial continued, the defence remained adamant that all the pieces of evidence were simply painting a picture of a disturbed individual rather than a calculated criminal.
Marc Agnifilo, the mogul's attorney, even said in his eyes Combs was simply living a "swinger's lifestyle".
His fellow inmates had handed in glowing handwritten testimonials in favour of Combs after the rapper spent his time inside hosting classes.
The 55-year-old has reportedly been running a weekly session called "Free Game with Diddy."
Inmates say it covers everything from entrepreneurship to health advice, while also giving them a chance to "pick his brain" about fame and money.
Douglas Welch, 42, told Judge Arun Subramanian that Combs "brings love into the Unit" and claimed the class pushed him to go "harder at my health journey".
Another inmate, Quinton Davis, said the sessions included "business Management, entrepreneurship and life skills," adding that Combs had even encouraged the group to use "AI and Chat GPT."
"It's a key factor and inside scoop on how Mr. Combs started from nothing and became the icon-business mogul he is today," Davis explained.
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