Bottle attack at a London club: singer Chris Brown given a suspended sentence

R&B singer Chris Brown has been given a suspended sentence for striking a man twice in the head with a tequila bottle at a club in central London. At Southwark Crown Court on Monday he was sentenced to eight months' imprisonment, suspended for 12 months.

Brown, 37, admitted affray earlier this year. The incident took place in February 2023 on the dancefloor at the Tape private members' club in Mayfair, where he attacked a former friend with a 'heavy' tequila bottle.

Brown's vocal coach Omololu Akinlolu, 40, also joined the attack. He was sentenced to four months' imprisonment, also suspended for 12 months, and both men were ordered to pay £1,500 in costs.

During the hearing, in front of a packed public gallery, Brown, wearing a black leather jacket, sat looking at the floor in the dock for much of the proceedings.

Judge Baumgartner called the attack 'plainly dangerous' and warned that commercial success does not attract preferential treatment in court. He said: '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.'

CCTV footage shown in court showed Brown striking Abraham Diaw four times with the bottle, connecting twice with his head and then hitting his shoulder.

Prosecutor Heidi Stonecliffe KC told the court Brown used a 'heavy square shaped tequila bottle' to hit Mr Diaw twice over the left-hand side of his head. As Diaw turned away, Brown rained down further blows, the court heard.

Stonecliffe said Akinlolu then grabbed Diaw in a 'bear hug'. She said: 'Mr Diaw falls to the ground and Mr Brown is also seen throwing punches.'

In another clip, Brown, from California, could be seen being pulled away from the victim. The court heard the incident took place at about 3am and lasted about 20 seconds.