Ghislaine Maxwell has been sentenced to 20 years in jail after being found guilty of trafficking underage girls for sex with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
Maxwell, 60, who will be in prison until she's 80, was convicted in December on five charges of grooming four girls and recruiting them for sex with her predator boyfriend.
As she handed down a 20-year sentence today, Judge Nathan summarised the abuses suffered by several of the victims, including two women named Jane and Kate - who chose to remain anonymous.
Judge Nathan said Maxwell and Epstein used a "playbook" over the years, and the result was "incalculable" damage to their victims.
Maxwell's offences were initially dissected during the trial in December, but today's sentencing gave her victims the chance to share the devastating impact the abuse has had on their lives.
It was also one of the few times Maxwell has spoken publicly after she was arrested at her sprawling New Hampshire estate on July 2, 2020.
Here are five revelations from Maxwell's sentencing today...
Victims are still traumatised by Maxwell and Epstein
The sick couple's victims, including Virginia Guiffre, pre-released victim impact statements earlier today that were later read in court.
Giuffre said Maxwell "opened the door to hell" by introducing her and others to Epstein.
Giuffre previously said the Brit “used her femininity” to procure her to indulge Epstein and her sick abuse fantasies.
Her statement reads: “Together, you damaged me physically, mentally, sexually and emotionally.
“I never would have met Jeffrey Epstein if not for you.”
After hearing Maxwell's so-called apology victim Sarah Ransome said: "I am sorry doesn't cut it".
"To force someone into a room to be raped ... There is not enough sorry in the world," she said.
In her statement, she said she was used as a "human sex toy with a heartbeat" for the "entertainment of Epstein, Maxwell and others" over a seven-to-eight month period.
She added: "On one visit to the island, the sexual demands, degradation and humiliation became so horrific that I tried to escape by attempting to jump off a cliff into shark-infested waters, but was caught by Maxwell and company moments before jumping.
"At the time, the extremely risky escape seemed more appealing than being raped one more time."
Similar horrors were shared in statements from survivors Elizabeth Stein and Annie Farmer.
Maxwell speaks at-length in public for first time in years
The socialite-turned-sex trafficker stunned the court, victims and media today when she took the stand to address the court before her sentence.
Maxwell, who had declined giving evidence during her trial, looked towards her victims today and told them:"I am sorry for the pain that you experienced.
"I hope my conviction and harsh incarceration brings you pleasure."
She earlier apologised to them at the hearing.
Maxwell told the court: “It is hard for me to address the court after listening to the pain and anguish expressed in the statements made here.
"The terrible impact on the lives of so many women is difficult to hear and even more difficult to absorb, both in its scale and in its extent.
“I want to acknowledge their suffering. I empathise deeply with all of the victims in this case.”
She then turned on her ex-boyfriend saying it was the “biggest regret of my life that I ever met him”.
“I acknowledge with that I have been a victim of helping Jeffrey Epstein commit these crimes,” she said.
“I believe that Jeffrey Epstein was a manipulative, cunning and controlling man who lived a profoundly compartmentalised life and fooled all of those in his orbit.
“Jeff Epstein should have been here before all of you," she said.
"He should have stood before you in 2005, again in 2009 and again in 2019.
“All the many times he was accused, charged and prosecuted. but today it is not about Jeffrey Epstein ultimately," she said.
"To you, all the victims ... I am sorry for the pain that you experienced."
Maxwell's family still supporting her despite conviction
Kevin Maxwell told reporters today her family will "solidify behind her" after her sentence.
He said the family had "nothing to add to the very heartfelt statement" read by the convicted felon in the courtroom.
He also confirmed she will be exercising her right to appeal the convictions, as was suspected.
Maxwell's lawyer Bobbi Sternheim echoed his comments, saying they plan to appeal because she's been "sentenced to an extremely long term".
Earlier this year, Maxwell's older brother Ian Maxwell broke down in tears while defending her - insisting her situation was "just wrong".
Ian claimed he and their siblings believe her pleas of innocence and spoke about her close friendship with Prince Andrew.
"The ghost in this whole affair is Jeffery Epstein…it’s just wrong," says Ian in a January ITV documentary Ghislaine, Prince Andrew and the Paedophile.
During the ITV documentary, Ian appears visibly upset as he speaks to camera about his convicted sex trafficker sister.
"Dammit, damn. I’m just damn angry," he says. "And I don’t see how anyone, anyone looking at this cannot feel that way.
"It’s just wrong. I have devoted a lot of my time as have my brothers and sisters to help Ghislaine.
"We believe her. We love her and we hope that she will get the justice that she definitely deserves."
Disagreements over sentence length
Judge Nathan sentenced Maxwell to two decades in a penitentiary - a term made up of three separate counts that she will serve concurrently. On one count she was given five years, 10 on another, and 20 years for the third charge.
The 20 year-term is far less than the 30-55 years prosecutors were calling for earlier this week.
While describing her crimes as "monstrous" and "shockingly predatory", prosecutors said she should serve at least 30 years inside.
But her legal team wanted her to serve no longer than four or five years, claiming she had been forced to endure inhumane conditions in her cell at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn while she was on remand.
But prosecutors countered: "Going from being waited on hand and foot to incarceration is undoubtedly a shocking and unpleasant experience."
Earlier today Judge Nathan suggested the appropriate sentence was far less than prosecutors expected and far more than the defence wanted.
She said for Maxwell's crime the guidelines put the right number between 16.5 and 19.5 years, but ratcheted it up to 20 at her own discretion.
Victims happy with the result
Survivors Elizabeth Stein and Sarah Ransome left court together holding each other's hand as they walked out to meet reporters.
Ms Stein said: "This is a nice piece of a vindication and validation."
The victim of both Epstein and Maxwell - who also shared her impact statement during the sentencing hearing - said she found it "unnerving" when the disgraced socialite started speaking.
She added: "I kept reminding myself she was in front of me in shackles being sentenced and Sarah [Ransome] and I were there sitting together free."
Ms Stein added she feels the 20 years was a "reasonable" sentence.
She said: "We are happy to finally have some closure and start a new chapter in our lives."
But when asked about Maxwell's so-called apology, Ms Ransome lashed out saying: "I wish she was sorry when she was forcing me into a room to be raped.
"That's when I wish she was sorry."
She added: "Actions speak louder than words. I hope she does the same but I know the real Ghislaine."
