US R&B star Chris Brown, 37, has avoided immediate jail in the UK. Chris Brown was sentenced Monday Oct 26 at Southwark Crown Court, London to 8 months prison, suspended for 12 months. Means he walks free now, but if he commits another offence in the next year, the court will activate the sentence.
His co-defendant and vocal coach rapper HoodyBaby, real name Omololu Akinlolu, 40, got 4 months, suspended for 12 months. Both were ordered to pay £1,500 in costs plus surcharge.
The Incident occured on February 19, 2023, around 3am at Tape nightclub, Mayfair, London and the victim was music producer Abraham “Abe” Diaw, a former friend.
Chris Brown pleaded guilty in July to affray – fighting/threatening violence causing fear. More serious charges of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm, assault causing ABH, and possessing offensive weapon were dropped.
A CCTV shown in court showed Brown holding a heavy square-shaped Don Julio 1942 tequila bottle, struck Diaw 4 times – twice on the head, then shoulder, then continued as Diaw turned away. Akinlolu joined, grabbing Diaw in a “bear hug” and punching him. Attack lasted 17-20 seconds.
Diaw was hospitalized with head, knee, neck injuries.
According to presiding Judge Tony Baumgartner: “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.
Your fame, commercial success and professional standing do not entitle you to special treatment. The law applies equally to everyone.”
The judge said he considered Brown’s guilty plea, stable employment, charity work, and clean recent record as mitigating, and pre-sentence risk assessments – so no custodial sentence needed, but: “a suspended sentence order is a custodial sentence.”
Brown was arrested May 2025 at the Lowry Hotel in Manchester when he returned to UK for his Breezy Bowl XX world tour, held about a week, then released on £5m ($6.68m) bail which allowed the tour to go ahead. That time in custody will count if the suspended term is activated.
Crown Prosecution Service called it a “vicious and unprovoked attack in a crowded nightclub.”
Brown thanked the judge and nodded to supporters in the gallery before leaving.
