Chris Brown Gets Suspended Sentence for London Club Attack

London (GNP): R&B singer Chris Brown has been given a suspended prison sentence for hitting a man twice on the head with a tequila bottle at a private members’ club in central London.

Southwark Crown Court sentenced the 37-year-old to eight months in prison, suspended for 12 months, on Monday. Brown had earlier admitted affray over the attack, which took place at the Tape club in Mayfair in February 2023.

His vocal coach, Omololu Akinlolu, 40, joined the attack and received a four-month sentence, also suspended for 12 months. Both men were ordered to pay £1,500 in costs.

The hearing drew a packed public gallery. Brown, who is from California, sat in the dock and looked at the floor for much of the proceedings.

The court heard that Brown attacked a former friend, Abraham Diaw, with a heavy bottle on the dancefloor. CCTV footage showed him striking Diaw four times, with two blows landing on the head and one on the shoulder.

Prosecutor Heidi Stonecliffe KC described the weapon as a heavy, square-shaped tequila bottle. She told the court that Brown hit Diaw twice on the left side of the head and then rained down further blows as Diaw turned away.

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The violence did not end there. Stonecliffe said Akinlolu grabbed Diaw in a bear hug, after which Diaw fell to the ground and Brown was seen throwing punches. Another clip showed Brown being pulled away from the victim.

The incident happened at about 3am and lasted around 20 seconds, the court heard.

Judge Baumgartner treated the attack seriously despite the suspended terms. He called the repeated use of a glass bottle aimed at the head plainly dangerous and said it carried the risk of a more serious injury than the one Diaw suffered.

He also made clear that the singer’s fame would not influence the outcome.

Judge Baumgartner said, “Commercial success does not attract preferential treatment.”