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Donald Trump has been handed a no-penalty sentence following his conviction in the Stormy Daniels hush money case.

He has received an unconditional discharge - meaning he will not face jail time, probation or a fine.

Manhattan Judge Juan M Merchan could have jailed him for up to four years.

You can read about the proceedings here...

Donald Trump sent out a fundraising email after being sentenced, our US partner network NBC News reports.

In the email, he said he wanted to hear from his supporters.

The email came with a link to a page requesting monetary donations.

As we have been reporting, the president-elect will not go to jail, pay a fine or be put on probation for his criminal conviction stemming from hush money paid to a porn star but the sentence imposed by a judge places a judgment of guilt on his record.

Trump pleaded not guilty and has vowed to appeal the guilty verdict. 

He appeared with his lawyer on TV screens beamed to the courtroom with two American flags in the background.

Donald Trump has been handed a no-penalty sentence, which is called an unconditional discharge. 

It's a term many people might not have heard before - so here's what it means... 

Under New York state law, an unconditional discharge is a sentence imposed "without imprisonment, fine or probation supervision".

The sentence is handed down when a judge is "of the opinion that no proper purpose would be served by imposing any condition upon the defendant's release", according to the law.

It means Trump's hush money case has been resolved without any punishment that could interfere with his return to the White House.

Unconditional discharges have been handed down in previous cases where, like Trump, people have been convicted of falsifying business records.

They have also been applied in relation into low-level offences such as speeding, trespassing and marijuana-related convictions.

Judge Juan Merchan has now left the bench and proceedings are now over.

The outcome cements Donald Trump's conviction while freeing him to return to the White House without the threat of a jail term or a fine.

But Trump will become the first person convicted of a felony to assume the presidency.

Stay here for more reaction and updates. 

Judge Juan Merchan has handed Donald Trump a no-penalty sentence on all 34 counts in his hush money case. 

A no-penalty sentence, also called an unconditional discharge, means the incoming president avoids jail time, probation and paying any fines. 

Explaining his decision, Judge Merchan says the protections afforded to the office of the president are a "factor that overrides all others". 

"Donald Trump, the ordinary citizen, Donald Trump the criminal defendant, would not be entitled to such considerable protections," he adds. 

He ends proceedings by telling Trump that he wishes him luck in his second term in office. 

Judge Juan Merchan is now talking and says "it is a judge that must decide what is a just conclusion with a verdict of guilty".

He reads from a paper and says that US legislature "sets the parameters" and the court "has broad discretion of sources and evidence of what to consider".

"Never before has this court been presented with such a unique and remarkable set of circumstances," he says.

"This has been a truly extraordinary case."

He says "the trial was a bit of a paradox" because "once the doors closed it was not unique".

Donald Trump is now addressing the court, telling the judge that this case has been a "very terrible experience" for him. 

The incoming US president says the case has been handled inappropriately and by someone who was involved with his political opponents - referring to Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg. 

"It was done to damage my reputation so I would lose the election," he says. 

"This has been a political witch hunt." 

Despite being found guilty of falsifying business records to commit election fraud, he adds: "I am totally innocent. I did nothing wrong." 

Concluding his statement, he tells Judge Juan Merchan: "I was treated very unfairly and I thank you very much." 

From our US partner site NBC News's correspondent Lisa Rubin, inside the courtroom... 

"Trump looks bored, and just leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. 

"When Steinglass said that he has acted with disdain for the rule of law, he appeared as if he nodded. 

"Steinglass is not devoting much time to recapping the offences, however.

"He is spending more time describing Trump's lack of remorse, intimidation of witnesses, accusations of unlawful conduct by the judge and the prosecution, and threatened retaliation against the prosecutors in the hopes that they and others will be scared off from enforcing the law. 

"Now Trump is paying attention, leaning forward on the table. Trump is now less attentive as Steinglass reads from Chief Justice Roberts's year-end report, which warns of the dangers of misinformation and threats to judicial officers." 

Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass now brings up the 34 felony charges against Donald Trump and says each carries a range of one to four years.

"The people recommend a sentence of unconditional release," he says.

He says the president-elect has "engaged in a campaign to undermine the rule of law" to "serve his own ends".

The lawyer notes that Trump had called this trial a "witch hunt" and a "sham".

"He's been unrelenting in his attacks against this court, prosecutors and their family," he says.

"His dangerous rhetoric and unconstitutional conduct has been a direct attack on the rule of law and he has publicly threatened to retaliate against the prosecutors."

Mr Steinglass says this is "designed to have a chilling effect and to intimidate".

Donald Trump has appeared virtually at a court in New York as his sentencing proceedings get underway. 

Judge Juan Merchan begins by explaining that the US president-elect opted to appear from his home in Florida. 

As he sets out that both the prosecution and the defence have received copies of the pre-sentence report, Trump frowns with pursed lips.