Chris Brown gets suspended eight-month jail term over assault

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.

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

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His co-defendant and vocal coach, Omololu Akinlolu, 40, was also given a four-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, after pleading guilty to the same offence.

Delivering his sentencing remarks, Judge Tony Baumgartner said Brown had played a “leading role in this joint offending”, noting that he had 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. He then hit the producer on the shoulder and attempted another strike.

The judge described the repeated use of a glass bottle as plainly dangerous, warning that it carried the risk of causing significantly more serious injuries than those ultimately sustained.

Although the incident was brief, Baumgartner said the violence was intense, while noting that it had not been planned.

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

The court considered Brown’s role more serious than Akinlolu’s because the singer initiated the physical violence.

Baumgartner also noted that Brown had two previous convictions involving violence, dating to 2009 and 2013, although he described them as old.

Other factors considered during sentencing included Brown’s compliance with bail conditions, his status as a father of four, his stable employment and his charitable activities.

However, the judge stressed that the singer’s fame, commercial success and professional standing did not entitle him to special treatment.

Brown’s pre-sentence report assessed his risk of further offending as low.

Akinlolu received a four-month prison sentence suspended for 12 months, with the judge finding his culpability lower than Brown’s.

The prosecution accepted that Akinlolu neither possessed nor used a bottle during the attack. His involvement consisted of punching and kicking Diaw while the producer was on the ground.

The judge said Akinlolu did not initiate the violence but joined after it had started, describing his role as significant.

Earlier, Brown’s defence lawyer, Sallie Bennett-Jenkins KC, described the incident as an “ugly and unattractive incident”.

She said the attack lasted between 17 and 20 seconds and acknowledged that it would have caused distress to those present. She also said Brown offered a profound apology to those affected.

Brown had initially faced trial on more serious charges, including assault, attempting to cause grievous bodily harm and possessing an offensive weapon, which he denied.

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

According to the BBC, CCTV footage presented in court showed Brown striking Diaw four times with a tequila bottle, including twice on the head. The footage captured an incident lasting no more than 20 seconds.

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 in prison, a fine or both.

The suspended sentences mean the prison terms will not ordinarily be served immediately, provided the defendants comply with the applicable conditions and do not trigger the suspension under the relevant rules.