The R&B singer Chris Brown has pleaded guilty to affray after a confrontation at a central London club.

The 37-year-old had been facing trial later this year over an allegation he attacked a former friend with a bottle at the Tape private members’ club in Mayfair in 2023.

On Friday at Southwark crown court, a charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm against Abraham Diaw was dropped, along with charges of possessing an offensive weapon – a bottle – in a public place and attempting to cause grievous bodily harm.

Brown will be sentenced on 26 October for the affray charge.

The singer, wearing a tan suit, gold-rimmed sunglasses and a St Louis Cardinals baseball hat, was flanked by security guards as he arrived at court, where a small group of fans had gathered.

At earlier hearings, Brown was ordered to pay a £5m security fee as part of his bail conditions, which also allowed him to go on a world tour as long as he surrendered his passport on arrival in each country.

He was released on bail again on Friday.

More details soon …