Chris Brown receives suspended eight-month sentence for 2023 London club assault

R&B singer Chris Brown was sentenced at Southwark Crown Court to eight months’ imprisonment, suspended for 12 months, after admitting to an affray charge stemming from a February 2023 incident at the Tape private members’ club in Mayfair. The court heard that Brown struck a former friend, Abraham Diaw, twice in the head with a heavy square-shaped tequila bottle on the dancefloor, and also delivered additional blows as the victim turned away. Brown’s vocal coach, Omololu Akinlolu, who was also involved, received a four-month suspended sentence and both men were ordered to pay £1,500 in costs.

Judge Baumgartner described the attack as “plainly dangerous” and emphasized that commercial success does not warrant preferential treatment in the legal system. He noted that using a glass bottle in the manner described posed a significant risk of serious injury.

CCTV footage presented in court showed Brown striking the victim multiple times, with the bottle making contact with the head and shoulder, and later being pulled away by security staff. The incident lasted approximately 20 seconds and occurred around 3 a.m.