Bill Cosby jailed for sexual assault

Comedian and actor Bill Cosby has been sentenced to three to 10 years in prison for drugging and sexually assaulting a woman in 2004.

The 81-year-old was convicted by a jury in April of three counts of sexual assault stemming from his attack on Andrea Constand in his Philadelphia home.

Cosby was also ordered to pay a $25,000 (£19,000) fine plus the costs of prosecution as part of his sentence.

The BBC reports that Cosby has also been categorised as a “sexually violent predator”, meaning he must undertake monthly counselling for the rest of his life and report to the authorities four times a year.

Cosby will also be placed on the sex offender registry, which includes a notification to the community that a “sexually violent predator” lives in the area.

After announcing the sentence, Judge Steven O’Neill told Cosby that this was “a serious crime”, adding: “Mr Cosby, this has all circled back to you. The day has come, the time has come.”

O’Neill cited Constand’s “powerful” victim impact statement that was released by prosecutors yesterday, saying that “nothing short of a significant stint in state prison would be appropriate”, The Guardian says.

“As she said, Mr Cosby, you took her beautiful, healthy young spirit and crushed her,” O’Neill said.

Cosby declined to make a statement to the court prior to sentencing, and was taken into custody immediately.

Judge O’Neill denied an application for the comedian to be released on bail, pending an appeal by his legal team.

Speaking outside the court, Gloria Allred, attorney for several of Cosby’s accusers said: “This has been a long journey to justice for all of the accusers. We’re glad that judgment day has finally come. Mr Cosby has shown no remorse.”