American singer Chris Brown has been handed an eight-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, over an attack on music producer Abraham Diaw at a London nightclub in February 2023.
The 37-year-old Grammy-winning singer was sentenced on Monday, October 26, 2026, at Southwark Crown Court in London after pleading guilty to affray in July.
The sentence means Brown will not serve immediate jail time, provided he complies with the conditions of his suspended sentence.
According to court proceedings, the incident occurred in the early hours of February 19, 2023, at Tape nightclub in Mayfair, central London, where Brown attacked Diaw with a glass bottle.
Prosecutors told the court that Brown struck Diaw twice on the head with a tequila bottle during the confrontation. The producer sustained head and knee injuries and was taken to hospital for treatment.
The attack was captured on CCTV footage, which was presented during the proceedings.
Chris Brown’s Co-Defendant Also Sentenced
Brown’s vocal coach, Omololu Akinlolu, 40, who was also involved in the incident, received a four-month suspended prison sentence, suspended for 12 months.
Prosecutors said Akinlolu joined the attack, while footage showed the victim being assaulted and falling to the ground.
Both men were also ordered to pay £1,500 in costs.
During sentencing, Judge Tony Baumgartner described the incident as serious public violence, noting the danger posed by repeatedly striking someone with a glass bottle, particularly on the head.
The judge considered the circumstances of the offence and mitigating factors, including Brown’s guilty plea, stable employment and charitable work, when determining the sentence.
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Charges Dropped After Guilty Plea
Brown had initially denied more serious allegations, including attempting to cause grievous bodily harm, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and possessing an offensive weapon.
However, in July 2026, he pleaded guilty to one count of affray, while the more serious charges were dropped as part of the legal proceedings.
Affray is an offence under British law involving the use or threat of unlawful violence that would cause a person of reasonable firmness present at the scene to fear for their safety.
The offence carries a maximum prison sentence of three years.
Chris Brown’s Arrest and Legal Proceedings
Following the February 2023 incident, Brown left the United Kingdom, and a warrant was subsequently issued for his arrest.
He was arrested in Manchester on May 15, 2025, after returning to Britain for a performance as part of his tour.
His arrest initially raised questions about the future of his international tour. He was later granted bail after agreeing to provide £5 million in security.
Brown returned to court in July 2026, when he and Akinlolu entered guilty pleas to affray. Both were subsequently scheduled for sentencing on October 26.
The case adds to the singer’s history of legal controversies, including his 2009 conviction for assaulting his then-girlfriend, Rihanna.
Brown’s latest sentence brings the legal proceedings over the 2023 London nightclub incident to a sentencing conclusion, although the suspended prison term means he will not immediately be incarcerated.