American singer Chris Brown has avoided a prison sentence after admitting a horrific assault at a luxury nightclub in London. R&B singer Brown arrived at Southwark Crown Court on Monday where he received his sentence over a bottle attack at the club.
The 37-year-old was accompanied by security guards as he arrived at court in the morning. He wore a cap, black leather jacket and face mask. A few fans could be heard cheering as Brown exited his vehicle and walked into the building.
CCTV footage was played which showed Chris Brown “striking” a man with a bottle of tequila in a nightclub as his sentencing hearing for affray began at Southwark Crown.
R&B singer Chris Brown arrived at Southwark Crown Court on Monday morning for sentencing© Getty Images
Sentencing Brown, His Honour Judge Baumgartner, said the use of a glass bottle by Brown in an altercation with a man at a London nightclub was “plainly dangerous”.
Brown, 37, had been facing trial after he hit a former friend, Abraham Diaw, twice over the head on the dancefloor at the Tape private members’ club in Mayfair in 2023. He along with his vocal coach, Omololu Akinlolu, 40, jointly admitted affray in July.
In front of an excited and packed public gallery, CCTV footage was shown where Brown swiped multiple times at Mr Diaw, connecting twice with his head, and then hitting his shoulder. In another clip, Brown could be seen being “pulled away” from his victim.
Brown along with his vocal coach, Omololu Akinlolu, 40, jointly admitted affray in July© James Manning/Press Association
Heidi Stonecliffe KC, prosecuting, described the weapon as a “heavy square shaped tequila bottle” and said he approached Mr Diaw at around 3am. “We then see Mr Brown hit Mr Diaw twice over the left-hand side of his head,” she said.
CCTV footage showed Chris Brown “throwing punches” in his victim’s direction during an incident at a nightclub in London, a court has heard.
Prosecutor Heidi Stonecliffe KC told the court that Omololu Akinlolu had grabbed Abraham Diaw in a “bear hug”. She said: “Mr. Diaw falls to the ground and Mr Brown is also seen throwing punches.” She said the incident lasted around 20 seconds.
Brown signs autographs after appearing at Southwark Crown Court in January© AFP via Getty Images
The man attacked by Chris Brown was discharged from hospital with a diagnosis of head injury and superficial injury of the knee, a court has heard.
Abraham Diaw was taken to St Mary’s Hospital in London after he was hit over the head on the dancefloor at the private members’ club in 2023. Prosecutor Heidi Stonecliffe KC said he was discharged with “pain relief and a diagnosis of head injury and superficial injury of the knee”.
An MRI scan taken in early March showed a “high grade injury to a ligament on the inner side of the left knee”, the court heard. Prosecutors alleged that Chris Brown played a “leading role” in the attack, which he disputes. Ms Stonecliffe said: “By any circumstances, when one watches that footage, it is Mr Brown that moves first.”
Chris Brown’s lawyer said he has offered a ‘profound apology’ to all those present© Wiktor Szymanowicz/Future Publishing via Getty Images
Chris Brown’s lawyer said he has offered a “profound apology” to all those present at the private members’ club in central London, a court has heard.o Sallie Bennett-Jenkins KC told the court the incident was something which “undoubtedly would have caused distress” to those at the nightclub.
She said: “This is an ugly and unattractive incident. It is, however, an incident which was very 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.”
Chris Brown’s vocal coach “genuinely believed” the singer was “under attack” when he punched a man at a London nightclub, a court has heard. Brown was described as being like a “brother” to Omololu Akinlolu, his lawyer Laurie-Anne Power KC told the court.
She added: “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.”
Sentencing Brown, His Honour Judge Baumgartner said: “You, Brown, were holding a tequila bottle in your right hand, when you reached Diaw you struck him to the left side of his head whilst holding his hood.
“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.”
Brown was given an eight-month custodial sentence, suspended for 12 months. Co-defendant Omololu Akinlolu gets four months, also suspended for 12 months. Both were ordered to pay £1,500 in costs each.
There were loud cheers outside Southwark Crown Court as Brown left the building was led through a crowd of people, appearing to stop to sign an autograph and even blowing a kiss to one fan.
Brown was then taken through the crowd by security and entered a black vehicle before leaving the scene.
