LONDON. — R&B star Chris Brown, who repeatedly battered a producer with a tequila bottle in a “dangerous” attack at a London club, has ESCAPED JAIL.
The American singer, 37, assaulted his former pal Abe Diaw on the dancefloor at Tape nightclub in Mayfair, Central London, in February 2023.
Brown was arrested at the five-star Lowry Hotel in Manchester after flying into the city on a private jet.
The Go Crazy singer appeared at Southwark Crown Court yesterday where he avoided jail and was instead handed an eight-month suspended sentence after pleading guilty to affray.
His vocal coach, Omololu Akinlolu, 40, was also handed a suspended sentence after he admitted the same charge.
Sentencing, Judge Tony Baumgartner said: “You, Brown, were holding a tequila bottle in your right hand, when you reached Diaw you struck him to the left side of his head whilst holding his hood.
“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.”
The court heard Brown played a “leading role” in the attack, which took place over a frenzied 20 second period.
CCTV released by police showed the singer strike Abe Diaw “several times” with a bottle before chasing him across the bar.
Akinlolu was captured on CCTV grabbing Abe in a “bear hug” before the victim fell to the ground.
Footage also showed Brown then “throwing punches” in the victim’s direction in front of the packed club
In another clip, Brown could be seen being “pulled away” from Abe as he lay defenceless on the dancefloor.
Heidi Stonecliffe KC, prosecuting, described the weapon as a “heavy square shaped tequila bottle” and said he approached Mr Diaw at around 3am.
Abe later went to hospital with head and knee injuries.
An MRI scan taken in early March showed a “high grade injury to a ligament on the inner side of the left knee”, the court heard.
Brown was initially held on remand but freed on bail after paying a £5million security fee to the court.
The two-time Grammy-winner, who was performing at the time, later posted on Instagram: “From the cage to the stage!”
He initially faced trial after he pleaded not guilty to one count of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent.
Brown had also denied having an offensive weapon — a bottle — in a public place but those charges were discontinued.
Sallie Bennett-Jenkins KC told the court the incident was something which “undoubtedly would have caused distress” to those at the nightclub. In 2009, Brown assaulted his then girlfriend Rihanna causing facial injuries and received five years’ probation. —The Sun
