American singer Chris Brown has been sentenced to eight months in prison, suspended for 12 months, over an attack on music producer Abraham Diaw at a London nightclub in February 2023.
The 37-year-old R&B star was sentenced on Monday, October 26, 2026, at Southwark Crown Court after pleading guilty to affray, an offence involving unlawful violence or the threat of violence.
The incident occurred at Tape nightclub in Mayfair, central London, where prosecutors said Brown struck Diaw several times with a heavy tequila bottle, hitting him twice on the head. The victim reportedly sustained head and knee injuries and was also punched and kicked during the attack.
Brown’s vocal coach and co-defendant, Omololu Akinlolu, also pleaded guilty to affray and received a four-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months. Both men were ordered to pay £1,500 in costs.
During sentencing, Judge Tony Baumgartner described the attack as dangerous, warning that using a glass bottle against someone’s head could have caused more serious injuries. He also stressed that Brown’s fame and commercial success did not entitle him to special treatment under the law.
The judge considered Brown’s guilty plea, stable music career, charity work and clean record in recent years when deciding against immediate imprisonment, despite his previous convictions.
The attack took place on February 19, 2023, while Brown was in the United Kingdom. He was arrested in Manchester in May 2025 after returning to the country for a concert and was later released on bail of £5 million.
Following Brown’s guilty plea, prosecutors dropped more serious charges, including assault, attempting to cause grievous bodily harm and possessing an offensive weapon.
Although Brown has received a prison sentence, he will not serve immediate jail time unless the suspended sentence is activated, including if he commits another offence during the suspension period.