Dennis Hastert: Former US Speaker of the House sentenced to 15 months in prison

Mr Hastert pleaded guilty to breaking federal banking laws in "hush money" scandal

Dennis Hastert arrives at a federal court house in Chicago for sentencing AP

Former US House Speaker Dennis Hastert has been sentenced to 15 months in prison for breaking federal banking laws to transfer millions of dollars in “hush money,” which he used to cover up sexual abuse decades ago.

Calling Mr Hastert, 74, a “serial child molester,” US District Judge Thomas Durkin told the former Republican representative that his sentence would have been longer were it not for his deteriorating health.

“This is not meant to be a death sentence,” he said.

The judge delivered the sentence after Mr Hastert acknowledge that he did, in fact, sexually abuse students of his while he was a wrestling coach at a suburban high school outside of Chicago.

Mr Hastert issued an apology to his victims, one of whom testified during Wednesday’s sentencing hearing, saying he “mistreated” them.

The Chicago Tribune said the judge then bluntly asked Mr Hastert whether or not if he sexually abused his victims.

“Yes,” Mr Hastert responded.