Three months ago, Sean Diddy Combs fell to his knees in a Manhattan courtroom after a New York jury acquitted him of charges of sex trafficking and racketeering.

I'm coming home, he said, turning around to face his family, who had supported him every day of the trial.

On Friday, a subdued version of the hip-hop mogul sat emotionless and still in his chair, as the judge sentenced him to over four years in prison.

After Judge Arun Subramanian finished reading his sentence, the rapper turned around to look at his family and appeared to mouth the words: I love you, I'm sorry.

It was a quiet moment to mark the end of a chaotic eight-week trial that forever altered the public's image of Combs - once one of the world's most famous rappers. The jury saw graphic videos of Combs' so-called freak offs - sex parties he had filmed featuring hired male escorts and his ex Cassandra Ventura and Jane, an anonymous victim. They also saw a video, that had previously gone viral, of him beating Ventura in a hotel hallway.

In July, a panel of 12 New Yorkers acquitted Combs, 55, of sex trafficking and racketeering charges - which carried the potential of life in prison - but found him guilty of transportation to engage in prostitution.

His attorneys hoped he would be out of prison in a matter of weeks, asking the court for a sentence of 14 months, 13 of which he had already served.

Prosecutors had accused Combs of running a criminal enterprise to coerce women into unwanted and drug-fuelled sex acts. Although he had been acquitted of those most serious charges, they had asked for a sentence of over 11 years in prison.

Ultimately, Judge Subramanian told a downcast Combs that his crimes and abuse of his ex-girlfriends warranted 50 months in prison.

As he told the court that Combs had 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. His entourage of over 30 family members were packed in the courtroom behind him.

During the all-day hearing, the court listened to speeches from several of Combs' attorneys, his children, a pastor and a criminal justice reform advocate who attested to Combs being a changed and sober man since detention.

They watched a video compilation from his legal team showing him with his children and the funeral of his former girlfriend Kim Porter, who died in 2018.

However, the court did not hear from the victims, as one witness chose to withdraw her statement following threats from Combs' defense team. The judge called the letter addressing her inappropriate and praised the victims for their courage in coming forward.

Combs addressed the court for the first time since the beginning of his trial, pleading for mercy. Struggling to maintain composure, he told the judge, I have nobody to blame but myself, and wept as he expressed regret to his mother, saying, I failed you as a son.

The hearing was deeply emotional as six of his seven children implored the judge for a lighter sentence, emphasizing their need for their father. Despite tears and heartfelt pleas, Judge Subramanian stressed the serious nature of the offenses and the irreversible harm done to the victims.

Judge Subramanian concluded by acknowledging Combs' family ties but emphasized the necessity of accounting for the damage inflicted on the victims. He addressed that a history of good deeds couldn't erase Combs' actions.

After delivering the sentence, he assured Combs and his family that they would get through this turbulent time. As the proceedings closed, Combs gave a nod to his family before being escorted back to federal custody.