Court sentences Diddy to 50 months’ imprisonment, lawyer accuses judge of being 13th juror

Music icon Sean “Diddy” Combs has been jailed for more than four years on prostitution-related charges

He was convicted of flying people across the US for sexual encounters he called “freak-offs”, including his girlfriends and male sex workers

As he sentenced the hip-hop mogul, the judge said the court had seen “massive” amounts of evidence against Combs and a significant sentence was required.

Combs earlier told the court his actions were “disgusting, shameful and sick” as he apologised to the victims and his children.

In July, 12 New Yorkers acquitted Combs, 55, of sex trafficking and racketeering charges – which carried the potential of a life sentence – but found him guilty of transportation to engage in prostitution involving his two ex-girlfriends, Cassandra Ventura and “Jane”.

On Friday, Judge Arun Subramanian told a downcast Combs that his crimes and the abuse of his ex-girlfriends warranted 50 months in prison and a $500,000 fine.

As the judge described how Combs used his fame and power to “subjugate” his victims, the music mogul did not look up, remaining expressionless for the judge’s 20-minute speech.

Afterwards, the rapper turned around to look at an entourage of more than 30 family members and friends packed into the courtroom behind him.

He appeared to mouth a message to them: “I love you, I’m sorry.”

Combs’ lawyer Marc Agnifilo, reacting to the judge saying the sexual encounters weren’t consensual, said, “We think that’s just absolutely inconsistent with the jury’s verdict.

“I mean, the jury’s verdict was resoundingly clear. There was no sex trafficking, there was no racketeering. Everything was consensual, everything was adult, which is why he was convicted only of the prostitution offence.

“What we feel happened today was that the judge acted as a 13th juror – one that we did not choose, and that he second guessed the jury’s verdict.”

The legal team is planning to appeal the decision.