Chris Brown escapes jail after London nightclub attack

US music star Chris Brown has escaped an immediate jail term after a London court handed him an eight-month suspended prison sentence over a 2023 nightclub attack that left music producer Abe Diaw nursing head and knee injuries.

The 37-year-old singer was sentenced at Southwark Crown Court alongside his co-accused, Omololu Akinlolu, 40, after both pleaded guilty to affray in July.

Brown’s sentence was suspended for 12 months, meaning he will not serve the eight months behind bars unless the conditions of the suspension are breached. Akinlolu received a four-month suspended sentence.

The court heard that Brown attacked Diaw at a London nightclub in 2023, repeatedly hitting him with a tequila bottle, including on the head. Diaw sustained injuries to his head and knee and required hospital treatment.

Delivering the sentence, Judge Tony Baumgartner described the repeated use of the bottle as “plainly dangerous”, noting that the attack happened in a crowded, confined space.

The judge also observed that Brown and Akinlolu pursued Diaw and continued the assault even after he tried to move away.

Although the incident lasted no more than 20 seconds, the violence was intense, the court heard. The judge noted, however, that the attack had not been planned.

Akinlolu’s role was also considered significant, but the court noted that, unlike Brown, he neither initiated the attack nor used a bottle.

Neither man was taken to prison following the sentencing. However, the judge stressed that the suspended sentences should still be regarded as punishment.

Brown and Akinlolu were also ordered to each contribute £1,500 towards the prosecution’s costs.

The ruling is another legal setback for Brown, whose career has been marked by a series of legal controversies over the years.