Chris Brown avoids jail over London nightclub bottle attack

Chris Brown has been handed a sentence of eight months in prison, suspended for 12 months, over a February 2023 bottle attack at a London nightclub. The singer, 37, had been accused of attacking another man, Abraham Diaw, with a bottle at the Tape nightclub in Mayfair, near Oxford Circus.

Brown pleaded guilty to the charge of affray at Southwark Crown Court in July this year. He had been due to face a trial on more serious charges, which he denied – including assault and attempting to cause grievous bodily harm – but they were dropped.

Details of the attack

According to the Crown Prosecution Service, Brown approached the victim from the dancefloor. After moving through the crowd, he 'struck him twice over the head' with a glass tequila bottle. The victim needed hospital treatment for head and knee injuries, with police saying CCTV showed Brown hitting Diaw on the head with a glass bottle several times.

In another clip, Brown could be seen being 'pulled away' from the victim. '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.'

Defence and apology

Brown's lawyer said he has offered a 'profound apology' to all those present at the private members' club in central London, a court has heard. Sallie Bennett-Jenkins KC told the court the incident was something which '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.'

His vocal coach, Omololu Akinlolu, 40, had also pleaded guilty to affray, and had assault and attempted grievous bodily harm charges dropped.