Chris Brown given suspended eight-month prison sentence over nightclub attack

Chris Brown handed suspended eight-month prison term after nightclub assault

US singer Chris Brown has avoided jail after hitting a man twice on the head with a glass tequila bottle in a London nightclub.

The R&B star received an eight-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, for the attack at the private members’ club Tape in Mayfair in the early hours of 19 February 2023.

Brown’s vocal coach, rapper Omololu Akinlolu, who took part in the assault, was sentenced to four months in prison, suspended for 12 months. Both men, who admitted affray, were also ordered to pay £1,500 costs.

Judge Tony Baumgartner said Brown’s use of the glass bottle to strike the victim twice on the head “was plainly dangerous”, adding that the violence of the attack was “intense”.

The sentence means Brown will not go to prison unless he commits another offence during the 12-month suspension period.

The court heard that Brown’s attack on music producer Abraham ‘Abe’ Diaw left the victim needing hospital treatment for his injuries.

In sentencing, Judge Baumgartner said: “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 in which Brown hit Diaw four times with the bottle, making contact twice with his head, and then striking his shoulder.

When sentencing Brown, Judge Baumgartner said: “This was not planned violence. It was nevertheless serious violence by two people in a crowded nightclub.”

The judge told Brown: “Violence of this kind in a crowded nightclub is serious, it creates an obvious risk, not only to the person against whom it is directed, but also to others nearby.”

He added that Brown’s conduct was “particularly dangerous” and that he had to be “physically pulled away” from the attack.

The judge said Brown’s fame, commercial success and professional standing “do not entitle you to special treatment - the law applies equally to everyone”.

But Judge Baumgartner also said he had taken into account Brown’s guilty plea, compliance with bail conditions, and the effect a custodial sentence would have on Brown’s children, and said the singer’s “risk of further offending is low”.

Brown and Akinlolu pleaded guilty to affray at Southwark Crown Court in July.

The singer had been due to stand trial on more serious charges, which he denied and which were later dropped.

Those charges were assault, attempting to cause grievous bodily harm, and possession of an offensive weapon.

After Brown and Akinlolu entered guilty pleas, the CPS issued a statement saying Brown had approached Diaw on the dance floor and hit him over the head twice with a glass bottle, before Akinlolu punched Diaw in the head.

“They continued their assault whilst the victim attempted to flee through the club,” the CPS said. “The victim was kicked while he was seated defenceless on the floor.”

Brown’s vocal coach, rapper Omololu Akinlolu, also previously pleaded guilty to affray

On Monday, the court was shown three pieces of CCTV footage from inside Tape nightclub on the night of the attack.

The assault lasted no more than 20 seconds, but Brown could be seen striking the victim four times with a tequila bottle, including twice to the head.

Prosecutor Heidi Stonecliffe KC described the weapon as a “heavy square-shaped tequila bottle” and said Diaw was approached by Brown at around 03:00.

The footage showed the nightclub was very small and crowded at the time.

The defence described Chris Brown as a “dedicated and a loving father of four children,” someone who is “positive and present”.

The singer was described as having lived “a good and law-abiding life” since his last conviction in 2013.

The events at Tape nightclub were described by the defence as a “short and deeply regretted incident”.

Brown’s defence lawyer told the court that he apologises to everyone present at the club at the time of the attack.

“This is an ugly and unattractive incident,” Sallie Bennett-Jenkins KC said.

“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 court heard Akinlolu “genuinely believed” that Brown was “under attack” when he joined in and punched Diaw.

Brown was described as being like a “brother” to Akinlolu, his lawyer Laurie-Anne Power KC told the court.

She added: “He genuinely believed him to be under attack and became involved, and thereafter accepts his initial involvement very quickly evolved into the events he has pleaded guilty to.”

Diaw was taken to St Mary’s Hospital in London after the attack. Ms Stonecliffe KC said he was discharged with “pain relief and a diagnosis of head injury and superficial injury of the knee”.

An MRI scan taken in early March showed a “high grade injury to a ligament on the inner side of the left knee”, the court heard.

Defending Brown, Ms Bennett-Jenkins KC said there was a “relatively low level of force” and disputed how serious the injuries were.

The defence argued that the attack caused no fractures or broken skin and that there was an absence of serious injuries.

Diaw, the victim, was “not supportive of the prosecution” and “withdrew” his support some time after the incident, the court heard.

Brown and Akinlolu stood up, faced each other and clasped hands after the judge finished his sentencing remarks, before leaving the glass dock.

There were loud cheers outside the court as Chris Brown left the building, appearing to stop to sign an autograph.

After sentencing, Brown posted a video from inside his car on his Instagram story, showing him looking out of the window before turning to the camera and giving a thumbs-up.

Brown, 37, is regarded as one of the biggest stars in R&B, with hit songs including Turn Up The Music, Ayo, Freaky Friday, Run It, Forever, Yeah 3x and Don’t Wake Me Up.