Celebrity3 min(s) read
Chris Brown sentenced for London nightclub bottle attack
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Chris Brown has been sentenced to eight months in prison suspended for 12 months, meaning he will not spend time in a UK prison.
He pleaded guilty to attacking Abraham Diaw with a bottle at London’s Tape nightclub in February 2023.
Chris Brown admitted affray and was sentenced today in London
Brown, 37, faced Judge Tony Baumgartner at Southwark Crown Court in London this morning, and the judge said that the singer’s alleged attack was ‘plainly dangerous’.
The controversial singer, known for his on-stage antics and his previous convictions, was with his vocal coach Omololu Akinlolu in the VIP section of Tape nightclub in Mayfair at the time of the incident.
Brown pleaded guilty to affray after attacking music producer Abraham Diaw with a bottle.
In return for that plea, prosecutors agreed to drop other charges of assault, GBH and possession of an offensive weapon.
In his remarks, the judge said Brown played a ‘leading role’ in the attack, as well as citing Brown’s previous convictions for violence in 2009 and 2013.
However, he confirmed: "I do not treat you as someone who has persistently offended during the intervening years.”
Judge outlines ‘intense’ violence
The entire incident, which lasted from the first hit with the bottle to Diaw being taken into another room, ‘lasted no more than 20 seconds’, Baumgartner said.
"That brevity is relevant, but the violence during that short period was intense,” he added.
After the attack, Diaw attended St Mary’s Hospital where he received treatment for a head injury or head trauma, as well as musculoskeletal injuries.
He was later discharged with crutches and pain medication.
Judge Baumgartner described the attack as ‘plainly dangerous’, stating: "The repeated use of a glass bottle in that way, particularly when directed towards the head, was plainly dangerous, “It carried the risk of causing significantly more serious injury than was ultimately sustained.”
However, he accepted that Diaw used the bottle first, although he made mention of the fact that Diaw was kicked while on the floor.
In sentencing, he referenced Brown’s fame, and made it clear that it would not play a part in his sentencing decision.
"I take account of your employment and long-established career in music,” he said.
"Your fame, commercial success and professional standing do not entitle you to special treatment. The law applies equally to everyone.”
He did then add that Brown's employment, his status with dependants and noted charity work were taken into consideration.
The judge then said that Brown would be entitled to the ‘maximum reduction’ of sentence having pleaded guilty at ‘the first reasonable opportunity’.
He also told Akinlolu that he woule receive a sentence ‘distinctly below’ that of Brown because of his 'lesser role, lack of any weapon and the context in which you were initially became involved’.
Fans gathered outside the courtroom in support of the singer.