Harvey Weinstein sentenced to 15 years for sexual assault

Harvey Weinstein has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for the sexual assault of a production assistant in 2006.

The former film producer had initially been found guilty of sexually assaulting Miriam Haley and raping an aspiring actress, Jessica Mann, at his first trial in New York in 2020.

That ruling was overturned in 2024, along with his 23-year prison sentence, after the state's highest court - New York Court of Appeals - concluded he did not get a fair trial.

A Manhattan jury convicted Weinstein of sexually assaulting Ms Haley at a second trial in June 2025.

They also found him not guilty of assaulting former model Kaja Sokola.

A fourth New York trial over the alleged rape of Ms Mann was dropped, after a third trial ended in a mistrial when the jury said it was deadlocked.

Ms Haley addressed the court Wednesday just before Weinstein was sentenced.

"Having been sexually assaulted by Harvey Weinstein has had a devastating effect on my life and sense of security that may never go away," Ms Haley said.

"Making the decision to speak up will have me looking over my shoulder for years to come. It's a life sentence for me."

Weinstein apologised in court to those he may have hurt.

"I do have remorse for Miriam Haley's pain, but I have to reiterate my innocence," he told the judge while seated in a wheelchair.

Judge Curtis Farber said Weinstein was once a king in the movie industry, "but recognition for these achievements will pale in comparison to what you did".

He said Weinstein is now known as "a sexual predator, the literal face of the MeToo movement".

The judge added: "You took what you wanted by force, and you have never accepted responsibility."

He said Weinstein's 15-year sentence will be followed by five years of supervised release and a requirement that he register as a sex offender.

Weinstein ​was convicted of rape in California in 2022 and is serving ​a 16-year prison sentence. He is set to be resentenced in LA after an appeals court threw out his original sentence.

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The Miramax studio co-founder - who has been facing growing health issues in recent years - is in custody serving his sentence at New York's maximum-security prison, Rikers Island.

Claims against the film mogul were a major driver for the #MeToo movement against sexual harassment and abuse in 2017.

Weinstein has denied raping or sexually assaulting anyone. Once he has been sentenced, he can appeal.

(c) Sky News 2026: Harvey Weinstein sentenced to 15 years for sexual assault