American singer Chris Brown walked free from court on Monday after a judge handed him a suspended sentence for his role in a violent brawl at a London nightclub in 2023.
The R&B star received an eight-month jail term suspended for a year at Southwark Crown Court, meaning he will avoid prison unless he commits another offence during that period.
Brown (37) pleaded guilty to affray in July, admitting his part in what prosecutors described as “a vicious and unprovoked attack” at Tape, a private members’ club in the capital.
Attack with a bottle
The court heard Brown used a glass bottle as a weapon during the incident on 19 February 2023, striking the victim’s head twice. The victim suffered several blows from the bottle before Brown and co-defendant Omololu Akinlolu pursued, punched and kicked him.
Judge Tony Baumgartner said the violence posed a serious risk in the crowded nightclub.
“Violence of this kind in a crowded nightclub is serious. It creates an obvious risk, not merely to the person against whom it is directed, but also to others,” the judge told the court.
He added: “This was not planned violence. It was nevertheless serious violence by two people in a crowded nightclub.”
Fans cheer as singer leaves court
Brown arrived at court wearing a black face mask, sunglasses and a black baseball cap. After the sentencing, fans greeted him with loud cheers outside. He later posted a video on Instagram showing him making a thumbs up sign from inside his car.
The guilty plea meant Brown avoided trial on several other charges, including attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent and possession of a bottle as an offensive weapon. He had previously denied those charges.
History of violence
Brown, who has sold tens of millions of records worldwide with mid-2000s hits such as “Kiss, Kiss”, has a long history of legal troubles.
In 2009, a US court convicted him of felony assault after he beat then-girlfriend Rihanna before the Grammy Awards. The pop star missed the ceremony because of her injuries.
Three years later, Brown fought with members of hip hop star Drake’s entourage at a New York nightclub. French basketball player Tony Parker suffered an eye injury after someone threw a glass bottle during the altercation.
In 2014, Brown pleaded guilty to assaulting a fan in Washington.
Brown grew up singing in a church choir in Virginia before his rich R&B voice brought him sudden fame. He later moved into rap.
Akinlolu (40), also a US national, pleaded guilty to affray over the London incident and received a four-month prison sentence suspended for a year.
