R&B singer Chris Brown has been sentenced at Southwark Crown Court after pleading guilty to affray for attacking a music producer in a London nightclub in February 2023.
The 37-year-old Grammy award-winning artist received an eight-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, for the incident in which he repeatedly struck a man's head with a glass tequila bottle.
Guilty Plea and Dropped Charges
Brown admitted the offence, which took place at the Tape London nightclub in Mayfair, during a previous hearing earlier this year at Southwark Crown Court. He was charged along with his vocal coach, Omololu Akinlolu, 40, who also pleaded guilty to affray.
In return for Brown's guilty plea, prosecutors dropped charges of assault, attempting to cause grievous bodily harm and having an offensive weapon.
Details of the Attack
According to the Crown Prosecution Service, the star approached the victim from the dancefloor. After moving through the crowd, he "struck him twice over the head" with the glass bottle.
Akinlolu "quickly joined Brown and punched the victim to the head", prosecutors said after surveillance footage of the incident was played. The pair "continued their assault whilst the victim attempted to flee through the club" and "the victim was kicked while he was seated defenceless on the floor".
Abraham Diaw was later taken to St Mary's Hospital with head and knee injuries.
Court Proceedings and Apology
Brown arrived at court this morning accompanied by security guards, wearing a cap, black leather jacket and face mask. A few fans could be heard cheering as he exited his vehicle and walked into the building. He left the UK after the brawl, but was arrested in May 2025 at a Manchester hotel after flying to the city for a concert.
Brown's lawyer, 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."
She added: "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."
Claire Campbell, senior crown prosecutor in CPS London South, said: "This was a vicious and unprovoked attack by Brown and Akinlolu in a crowded nightclub where Brown used a glass bottle as a weapon to strike the victim's head twice."
Campbell added: "This kind of violence is entirely unacceptable, and the Crown Prosecution Service will work tirelessly – with the police and partners across the criminal justice system – to pursue cases like this, and prove that no one is above the law."
Brown has been in repeated legal trouble since his felony conviction in the 2009 assault of his then-girlfriend, Rihanna, hours before the pair were due to perform at the Grammys. He has been arrested in several U.S. states over altercations, and in 2019 he was arrested in Paris and questioned on suspicion of rape. He was released without charge.
