Chris Brown has avoided immediate imprisonment after attacking a man with a glass tequila bottle at a London nightclub.
The R&B singer received an eight-month suspended prison sentence at Southwark Crown Court on Monday for striking music producer Abraham 'Abe' Diaw twice in the head with the bottle at the private members' club Tape in Mayfair on 19 February 2023. Brown will only serve time if he commits another offence within the next 12 months.
Diaw required hospital treatment. He was discharged with pain relief, a head injury diagnosis and a superficial knee injury, though an MRI scan in early March revealed a "high grade injury to a ligament on the inner side of the left knee".
CCTV footage shown in court captured Brown striking Diaw four times with the bottle over roughly 17 to 20 seconds, connecting twice with his head and once with his shoulder. Diaw attempted to flee as Brown's vocal coach Omololu Akinlolu then punched him in the head. Both men kicked Diaw while he sat defenceless on the floor.
Both men pleaded guilty to affray. Akinlolu received a four-month suspended sentence. Each was ordered to pay 1,500 pounds in costs.
Judge Tony Baumgartner called the use of the glass bottle "plainly dangerous" and described the violence as "intense". He told 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."
The judge noted that Brown's "fame, commercial success and professional standing do not entitle you to special treatment". He also stated the singer had to be physically pulled away from the attack.
However, Baumgartner cited Brown's guilty plea, compliance with bail conditions, his status as a father of four, and his "low" risk of reoffending as factors in suspending the sentence rather than imposing immediate imprisonment. He noted that 2023 sentencing law changes meant he must suspend custodial sentences unless exceptional circumstances apply.
Brown had initially faced trial on more serious charges of assault, attempted grievous bodily harm and possessing an offensive weapon. The Crown Prosecution Service later dropped those charges after his guilty plea to affray.