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US singer Chris Brown has received an eight-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, over an attack on music producer Abraham Diaw at a London nightclub in February 2023.
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Brown pleaded guilty to affray after prosecutors said he struck Diaw twice over the head with a glass bottle during the confrontation at Tape nightclub in Mayfair.
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His vocal coach, Omololu Akinlolu, also received a four-month suspended prison sentence over his role in the attack, with both men ordered to pay £1,500 in costs.
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Brown was arrested in Manchester in May 2025, more than two years after the incident, and later pleaded guilty to affray in July 2026.
October 26, (THEWILL) – American singer Chris Brown has been sentenced to eight months’ imprisonment, suspended for 12 months, over an attack on music producer Abraham Diaw at a London nightclub in February 2023.
Brown, 37, was sentenced at Southwark Crown Court on Monday after pleading guilty to affray in connection with the incident at Tape nightclub in Mayfair, central London.
The suspended sentence means Brown will not serve the prison term immediately, provided he complies with the applicable conditions of the suspension.
According to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), the incident occurred in the early hours of February 19, 2023, when Brown and his vocal coach, Omololu Akinlolu, approached Diaw on the nightclub’s dancefloor before attacking him.
Prosecutors said Brown struck Diaw twice over the head with a glass bottle. The assault continued as the victim attempted to flee through the club, while Diaw was also kicked as he sat on the floor.
Diaw was subsequently taken to St Mary’s Hospital, where he received treatment for head and knee injuries.
The prosecution described the attack as serious, highlighting the danger posed by striking someone over the head with a glass bottle.
Brown pleaded guilty to affray in July 2026, avoiding a trial on the charge. Affray is a public-order offence under English law involving the use or threat of unlawful violence in circumstances that would cause a person of reasonable firmness to fear for their safety.
Akinlolu, 40, also pleaded guilty to affray and was sentenced to four months’ imprisonment, suspended for 12 months. Both men were ordered to pay £1,500 in costs.
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Arrest And Prosecution
Police arrested Brown in Manchester on May 15, 2025, after he returned to the United Kingdom ahead of a scheduled concert.
His arrest came more than two years after the nightclub incident. He was subsequently granted bail subject to conditions, including a reported £5 million security requirement.
The case adds to Brown’s history of legal controversies involving violence. In 2009, he pleaded guilty to assaulting his then-girlfriend, singer Rihanna, in an incident that occurred shortly before the Grammy Awards. He received five years’ probation and was ordered to complete community labour.
The sentencing brings the court proceedings over the 2023 nightclub attack to a significant stage, with both Brown and Akinlolu receiving suspended prison terms for their roles in the confrontation.
Although Brown will not immediately serve the eight-month prison term, the suspended sentence remains a custodial sentence. Failure to comply with the suspension conditions could result in the prison term being activated, subject to the court’s decision and applicable law.
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
