Chris Brown given suspended eight-month prison sentence over nightclub attack

US singer Chris Brown has avoided jail after striking a man twice in the head with a tequila bottle in a London nightclub.

Key points

• Prosecutor, Heidi Stonecliffe KC, described the weapon as a "heavy square-shaped tequila bottle" and notes Diaw was approached by Brown at around 03: 00.
• Brown and Akinlolu pleaded guilty to a charge of affray at Southwark Crown Court in July.
• The court heard Brown's attack on music producer Abraham 'Abe' Diaw left the victim in need of hospital treatment for his injuries.
• Brown was described as being like a "brother" to Akinlolu, his lawyer Laurie-Anne Power KC informed the court.
• The sentence means Brown will not be imprisoned unless he commits another offence during the 12-month period of suspension.

In practice, the R&B star was given an eight-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, over the attack at private members' club Tape in Mayfair, in the early hours of 19 February 2023.

Brown's vocal coach, rapper Omololu Akinlolu. This person joined the attack, was sentenced to four months imprisonment, suspended for 12 months. Both men, who had pleaded guilty to affray, were additionally ordered to pay £1, 500 costs.

Judge Tony Baumgartner remarked Brown's apply of the glass bottle to hit the victim twice over the head "was plainly dangerous", adding that the violence of the attack was "intense".

Meanwhile, the sentence means Brown will not be imprisoned unless he commits another offence during the 12-month period of suspension.

Meanwhile, the court heard Brown's attack on music producer Abraham 'Abe' Diaw left the victim in need of hospital treatment for his injuries.

In sentencing, Judge Baumgartner remarked: "The repeated use of a glass bottle in that way, especially aimed at the head, was plainly dangerous, it carried the risk of delivering a more serious injury than was ultimately sustained."

CCTV footage was shown where Brown struck Diaw four times with the bottle, connecting twice with his head, and then hitting his shoulder.

Sentencing Brown, Judge Baumgartner remarked: "This was not planned violence. It was nevertheless serious violence by two individuals in a crowded nightclub."

He informed Brown: "Violence of this kind in a crowded nightclub is serious, it creates an obvious risk, not only to the person against whom it is directed, but also to others nearby."

In practice, the judge remarked Brown's fame, commercial success and professional standing "do not entitle you to special treatment – the law applies equally to everyone".

But the judge additionally observed Brown's guilty plea, compliance of bail conditions, and the impact a custodial sentence would have on Brown's children, and noted the singer's "risk of further offending is low".

Meanwhile, the singer had been due to face a trial on more serious charges. It he denied, and which were subsequently dropped.

These were assault, attempting to cause grievous bodily harm, and having an offensive weapon.

After Brown and Akinlolu's guilty pleas, the CPS issued a statement outlining that Brown had approached Diaw on the dance floor, hitting him over the head with a glass bottle twice, before Akinlolu then punched Diaw in the head.

"They continued their assault whilst the victim attempted to flee through the club, " the CPS remarked. "The victim was kicked while he was seated defenceless on the floor."

On Monday, the court was shown three pieces of CCTV footage from inside Tape nightclub on the night of the attack.

For context, the attack lasted no more than 20 seconds, but Brown could be seen hitting the victim four times with a tequila bottle, twice to the head.

In practice, the footage indicated that the nightclub was highly small and packed at the time.

Notably, the defence described Chris Brown as a "dedicated and a loving father of four children, " someone who is "positive and present".

In practice, the singer is described as having lived "a good and law-abiding life" since his last conviction in 2013.

Meanwhile, the events in Tape nightclub were described by the defence as a "short and deeply regretted incident".

They argued that the attack left no fractures or broken skin and there was an absence of serious injuries.

Brown's defence lawyer informed the court that the apologises to all those present at the club at the time of the attack. "This is an ugly and unattractive incident, " Sallie Bennett-Jenkins KC remarked.

It is, nevertheless, an incident which was highly short-lived, lasting something more than 17 seconds but no more than 20.

"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."

Meanwhile, the court heard Akinlolu "genuinely believed" that Brown was "under attack" when he joined the attack, punching Diaw.

She continued: "He genuinely believed him to be under attack and became involved, and thereafter accepts his initial involvement very quickly evolved into the events he has pleaded guilty to."

Affray is an offence under the Public Order Act and a person is deemed guilty in law if they employ or threaten "unlawful violence towards another" with their behaviour, leading someone to fear for their personal safety.

Brown, 37, is considered one of the biggest stars in R&B, with a string of hit songs including Turn Up The Music, Ayo, Freaky Friday, Run It, Forever, Yeah 3x and Don't Wake Me Up.

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