Chris Brown has been given an eight-month custodial sentence, suspended for 12 months, at Southwark Crown Court after admitting to attacking a man with a glass tequila bottle at a luxury London nightclub.
The 37-year-old R&B singer pleaded guilty to affray alongside his vocal coach, Omololu Akinlolu, 40, in July. The incident took place on the dancefloor of the Tape private members' club in Mayfair in 2023.
CCTV shows the attack
CCTV footage shown in court captured Brown swinging blows at his former friend, Abraham Diaw, connecting twice with his head and once with his shoulder. One clip showed Brown being pulled away from his victim.
Prosecutor Heidi Stonecliffe KC described the weapon as a "heavy square shaped tequila bottle" and said Brown approached Mr Diaw at around 3am. "We then see Mr Brown hit Mr Diaw twice over the left-hand side of his head," she said.
Victim's injuries
Mr Diaw was taken to St Mary's Hospital in London after the attack. He was discharged with "pain relief and a diagnosis of head injury and superficial injury of the knee", according to Ms Stonecliffe.
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. Prosecutors alleged Brown played a "leading role" in the attack, which he disputes.
Sentencing remarks
His Honour Judge Baumgartner said the use of a glass bottle "plainly dangerous". He told Brown: "You were holding a tequila bottle in your right hand, when you reached Diaw you struck him to the left side of his head whilst holding his hood. 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."
Brown's lawyer, Sallie Bennett-Jenkins KC, said the incident was "an ugly and unattractive incident" that was "very short-lived, lasting something more than 17 seconds but no more than 20". She said Brown offers "a profound apology to all those present".
Akinlolu's lawyer, Laurie-Anne Power KC, said her client "genuinely believed him to be under attack and became involved". Akinlolu received a four-month sentence, also suspended for 12 months. Both were ordered to pay £1,500 in costs each.
Cheers were heard outside Southwark Crown Court as Brown left the building, where he appeared to stop to sign an autograph and blow a kiss to a fan before being led through the crowd by security into a black vehicle.
