Chris Brown gets suspended prison term for nightclub fight

American singer Chris Brown has received an eight-month prison sentence. This sentence is suspended for 12 months due to an attack on music producer Abe Diaw at a London nightclub in February 2023.

Brown, 37, was sentenced at Southwark Crown Court on Monday. He pleaded guilty to affray in July, according to BBC News updates.

Chris Brown arriving at Southwark Crown Court for his sentence over the nightclub attack in London on Monday, Oct. 26, 2026. AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali

His co-defendant, 40-year-old Omololu Akinlolu, also received a suspended sentence. Akinlolu was given four months, suspended for 12 months.

Judge Tony Baumgartner spoke during the sentencing. He said Brown had a “leading role in this joint offending” and pointed out that he used a bottle as a weapon.

The judge explained that Brown approached Diaw in the VIP area of Tape nightclub on February 19, 2023. He hit Diaw twice on the head with a tequila bottle and struck him on the shoulder while trying to hit him again.

“The repeated use of a glass bottle in that way… was plainly dangerous,” the judge said. He added that it “carried the risk of causing significantly more serious injury than was ultimately sustained.”

Baumgartner described the incident as “short” but noted the violence was “intense” even though it was not planned.

Diaw needed hospital treatment after the attack. The judge said he suffered a head injury, muscular-skeletal problems, tenderness around his cervical spine and abdomen, and reduced movement in his left knee.

The judge stated that Brown’s actions were more serious than Akinlolu’s because he started the violence. He also mentioned that Brown had “two previous convictions involving violence” from 2009 and 2013, but said those were “now old.”

Other factors in the sentencing included Brown’s compliance with bail conditions, his role as a father of four, his “stable employment” and his “charitable activities.”

Still, the judge stressed that Brown would not get special treatment due to his “fame, commercial success, and professional standing.” He added that Brown’s pre-sentence report showed his risk of re-offending as “low.”

On Akinlolu, the judge said his responsibility was lower than Brown's. He noted that the prosecution agreed Akinlolu did not have or use a bottle.

Akinlolu’s actions included punches and a kick aimed at Diaw while he was on the ground. The judge said Akinlolu did not start the violence but joined in after it had begun, describing his role as “significant.”

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

She said, “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.”

Brown had been set to face trial on more serious charges, including assault, trying to cause grievous bodily harm, and possessing an offensive weapon, which he denied. Those charges were 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.

BBC reported that CCTV footage shown in court captured the attack, lasting no more than 20 seconds. The footage showed Brown hitting Diaw four times with a tequila bottle, including twice on the head.

According to BBC, affray is an offence under the Public Order Act. It involves using or threatening unlawful violence that makes another person fear for their safety. It can lead to a maximum sentence of three years in prison, a fine, or both.