In sentencing, Judge Helen Syme said: “I do not accept that he was not aware that she was attempting to push him away and trying to physically resist him… it was very clear she said no several times”.
“I have found the offender was fully aware that the victim was not consenting and went ahead anyway. His decision to do so increases the objective seriousness,” she said.
The maximum time served will be five years and nine months.
Earlier, he took what could have been his final steps as a free man as he was swarmed by supporters when he arrived at his sentence hearing.
Family and friends formed a wall around Hayne and his new wife Amellia, shielding them with umbrellas outside Newcastle District Court.
Inside court, his victim bravely spoke about the devastating impact the crime has had on her life.
“I have spent countless hours crying, the feeling of violation and feeling dirty doesn’t go away. I have nightmares and flashbacks of his face looking right through me,” the now 28-year-old said.
“Sometimes I can’t get out of bed.”
The woman, who can’t be named, described feelings of anger, frustration, and wanting to die.
“What I experienced was horrible, nobody should ever have to feel that way. I am destroyed and damaged but I am still standing,” she told the court.
“I am destroyed and damaged but I am still standing.”
“Your body remembers and your mind doesn’t forget. I survived this and I have protected a tiny spark of my life.”
He kept a taxi waiting while he went inside the woman’s home and assaulted her, before travelling back to Sydney.
A judge has already warned jail time is inevitable.
Hayne has always maintained the sex was consensual and has already flagged an appeal.
Hayne, 33, was a superstar in the NRL, playing for Parramatta Eels and briefly for the Gold Coast Titans.
He then made a failed attempt to switch to professional American football, then very briefly in rugby union sevens.
Hayne told the court this morning that he was due to sign a contract with St George Illawarra Dragons on the day he was charged with sexual assault.
“Because the media were involved, the frenzy that it went in with the charges, I didn’t hear from them after that,” he said.
His former Parramatta teammate Tim Mannah addressed the court to give a reference for his best friend.
Mannah said he noticed a change in Hayne’s behaviour after he attended a Bible college in Perth.
He said you can’t have a five-minute conversation with Hayne “without him talking about something from the Bible”.
If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au. In an emergency, call 000.
This content first appear on 9news