An American convicted of kidnapping, raping and enslaving three girls for over a decade has been sentenced to life in prison without parole.
Ariel Castro, 53, was sentenced Thursday to life in prison plus 1,000 years on the charge of aggravated murder and various other charges related to kidnapping and rape, Xinhua reported.
"There is no place in this city, there is no place in this country, there is no place in this world for those who enslave others," said Judge Michael Russo.
"You don't deserve to be out in our community. You are too dangerous," added Russo.
He called Castro's behaviour "anti-social personality disorder" and the sentence "commensurate with the harm you've done".
Speaking at the hearing, Castro apologised to the three victims who were still teenagers when they were held captive about a decade ago, and asked for their forgiveness.
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"I am truly sorry," said the kidnapper.
However, he insisted that he did not beat or torture the three young women.
"I am not a monster. I'm just sick. I have an addiction," said Castro.
Michelle Knight, 32, was the first of the three women to be kidnapped by Castro and the only victim who appeared in court Thursday.
"I went through 11 years of hell, and now your hell is just beginning," Knight told Castro.
Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus and Michelle Knight were rescued May 6 from a Cleveland house in the US state of Ohio.
Castro has pleaded guilty last week to 937 counts, including murder, rape and kidnapping.