US singer Chris Brown has avoided jail after a London court handed him an eight-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, over an attack on music producer Abraham Diaw at a nightclub in 2023.
The 37-year-old R&B star was sentenced on Monday at Southwark Crown Court after pleading guilty to affray over the incident at Tape nightclub in Mayfair, London, in February 2023.
His co-defendant, Omololu Akinlolu, 40, who is also his vocal coach, received a four-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months. Both men were ordered to pay £1,500 in costs.
During the proceedings, Judge Tony Baumgartner described the attack as dangerous, warning that Brown’s fame and commercial success did not entitle him to special treatment under the law.
“The law applies equally to everyone,” the judge said.
The court heard that CCTV footage showed Brown striking Diaw twice on the head with a glass tequila bottle. The singer then grabbed the victim, while Akinlolu joined the assault by punching and kicking him.
Prosecutors said the pair continued attacking Diaw as he attempted to flee through the crowded nightclub and kicked him while he was on the floor.
The attack lasted between 17 and 20 seconds, according to evidence presented in court.
Diaw was taken to St Mary’s Hospital with head and knee injuries. Medical examinations found no abnormalities on a CT scan, and he was discharged with crutches and pain relief.
Judge Baumgartner said the repeated use of a glass bottle against the victim’s head was “plainly dangerous” and carried the risk of causing more serious injuries.
The judge also found that Brown played the leading role in the attack, while Akinlolu’s sentence reflected his lesser role and the fact that he did not use a weapon.
Both men received reductions in their sentences after pleading guilty at the first reasonable opportunity.
Brown’s lawyer told the court that the singer deeply regretted the incident and offered an apology. His defence also asked the judge to consider his career, family responsibilities and charitable activities.
The court, however, declined to order compensation for Diaw, citing unresolved questions about the extent and cause of his knee injury and its possible long-term consequences.
The Crown Prosecution Service described the attack as vicious and unprovoked, adding that the case demonstrated that no one was above the law.
The Metropolitan Police also said it had taken several years to secure the outcome, noting that the suspects had left the UK after the incident.
Brown appeared relieved after the judgment and blew kisses to cheering fans as he left the court.
The singer was arrested in May 2025 after returning to the UK, more than two years after the incident. He had previously faced charges of assault, attempting to cause grievous bodily harm and possessing an offensive weapon, but prosecutors dropped those charges following his guilty plea to affray.
Brown rose to international fame as a teenager in 2005 and has since won multiple music awards, including Grammy Awards. His career has also been marked by legal troubles, including his 2009 assault conviction involving singer Rihanna.
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