London, Oct 26. (PA Media/dpa/GNA) – R&B singer Chris Brown, has avoided jail after striking a man twice in the head with a tequila bottle in a central London club.
The 37-year-old admitted affray earlier this year after attacking a former friend with a “heavy” tequila bottle on the dance floor at the Tape private members’ club in Mayfair in February 2023.
On Monday at Southwark Crown Court in London, Brown was sentenced to eight months imprisonment, suspended for 12 months. His vocal coach Omololu Akinlolu, 40, who joined the attack, was sentenced to four months imprisonment, suspended for 12 months, and both men were ordered to pay ÂŁ1,500 ($2,000) costs.
In front of a packed public gallery, the singer, who was wearing a black leather jacket, sat looking at the floor in the dock for much of the hearing.
Judge Tony Baumgartner called the attack “plainly dangerous” and warned that “commercial success does not attract preferential treatment” in court.
In sentencing, he said: “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.”
CCTV footage was shown where Brown struck Abraham Diaw four times with the bottle, connecting twice with his head, and then hitting his shoulder.
Heidi Stonecliffe, prosecuting, told the court Brown used a “heavy square shaped tequila bottle” to “hit Mr Diaw twice over the left-hand side of his head”. He then rained down “further blows” as Diaw turned away, the court heard.
Stonecliffe said Omololu Akinlolu then grabbed Diaw in a “bear hug.” She said: “Mr Diaw falls to the ground and Mr Brown is also seen throwing punches.”
In another clip, Brown from California, US, could be seen being “pulled away” from the victim. The incident lasted around 20 seconds and started at around 3 am, the court heard.
GNA