Chris Brown Gets Eight-Month Suspended Prison Sentence Over London Nightclub Attack

American singer Chris Brown has been handed an eight-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, over an attack on music producer Abe Diaw at a London nightclub in February 2023.

According to BBC News live updates, Brown, 37, was sentenced at Southwark Crown Court on Monday, October 26, 2026, after pleading guilty to affray in July.

His co-defendant and vocal coach, 40-year-old Omololu Akinlolu, also received a four-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months.

Delivering his sentencing remarks, Judge Tony Baumgartner said Brown played a “leading role in this joint offending” and used a bottle as a weapon during the incident.

The court heard that Brown approached Diaw in the VIP area of Tape nightclub in the early hours of February 19, 2023, and struck him twice on the head with a tequila bottle before hitting him on the shoulder and attempting another strike.

The judge described the incident as brief but intense, noting that the repeated use of a glass bottle was dangerous and carried the risk of causing more serious injuries than those ultimately sustained.

Diaw required hospital treatment following the attack. His injuries included head trauma, musculoskeletal problems, tenderness around the cervical spine and abdomen, and reduced movement in his left knee.

The judge said Brown’s conduct was more serious than Akinlolu’s because he initiated the physical violence.

Baumgartner also considered Brown’s two previous convictions involving violence, dating to 2009 and 2013, although he described them as old. Other factors considered included the singer’s compliance with bail conditions, his status as a father of four, stable employment and charitable activities.

The judge stressed that Brown was not entitled to special treatment because of his fame, commercial success or professional standing. However, his pre-sentence report assessed the risk of further offending as low.

Regarding Akinlolu, the judge said his level of culpability was lower because he neither possessed nor used a bottle. The court heard that Akinlolu punched and kicked Diaw while he was on the ground, joining the violence after it had started.

Earlier, Brown’s defence lawyer, Sallie Bennett-Jenkins KC, described the incident as an “ugly and unattractive incident” and said it lasted between 17 and 20 seconds.

She also conveyed Brown’s profound apology for the distress caused to those who witnessed the incident.

Brown had initially faced more serious charges, including assault, attempting to cause grievous bodily harm and possessing an offensive weapon, which he denied. Those charges were subsequently dropped following his guilty plea to affray.

Akinlolu also pleaded guilty to affray, while assault and attempted grievous bodily harm charges against him were dropped.

BBC News reported that CCTV footage shown in court captured the incident, which lasted no more than 20 seconds. The footage showed Brown striking Diaw four times with a tequila bottle, including twice on the head.

Affray is an offence under the UK’s Public Order Act involving the use or threat of unlawful violence that causes another person to fear for their personal safety. It carries a maximum penalty of three years’ imprisonment, a fine or both.