R+B star Chris Brown has been given a suspended eight-month prison sentence over an incident in a London nightclub in 2023.
Chris Brown has been handed a suspended prison sentence over a bottle attack at a London nightclub.
The 37-year-old star was sentenced to eight months in prison, suspended for 12 months, after striking his former friend Abraham Diaw twice in the head with a “heavy” tequila bottle at the Tape Club in Mayfair in February 2023.
Brown had admitted affray at Southwark Crown Court in July and had been due to face trial on more serious charges of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm and actual bodily harm, which he denied, before these were dropped by prosecutors.
The R+B singer’s vocal coach Omolulu Akinlolu, 40, who joined the attack, was sentenced to four months imprisonment – suspended for a year – with both men ordered to pay £1,500 costs.
At Southwark Crown Court on Monday (26.10.26), Judge Tony Baumgartner called the attack “plainly dangerous” and warned that “commercial success does not attract preferential treatment” in court.
He said in sentencing: “The repeated use of a glass bottle in that way, especially aimed at the head, was plainly dangerous, it carried the risk of delivering a more serious injury than was ultimately sustained.”
CCTV footage was shown where Brown struck Diaw four times with the bottle – connecting twice with the victim’s head and then hitting his shoulder.
In another clip, Brown could be seen being “pulled away” from the victim.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said: “They continued their assault whilst the victim attempted to flee through the club.
“The victim was kicked while he was seated defenceless on the floor.”
Brown’s lawyer said the star had offered a “profound apology” to all those present at the private members’ club in London.
Sallie Bennett-Jenkins KC told the court that the attack was something that “undoubtedly would have caused distress” to those at the nightclub.
She said: “This is an ugly and unattractive incident.
“It is, however, an incident which was very short-lived, lasting something more than 17 seconds but no more than 20.
“It is something which undoubtedly would have caused distress to those who are present and for which Mr Brown offers a profound apology to all those present.”
The suspended sentence leaves Brown free to continue his R+B Tour alongside Usher, with the next gig set to take place in Atlanta on November 5.
Chris Brown avoids jail over London nightclub bottle attack
