American R&B singer Chris Brown has been charged with assault after an alleged attack on Rihanna, his pop star girlfriend.

The high-profile pair were expected to be feted as the stars of last month’s Grammy awards but pulled out of the event as reports circulated that Mr Brown had beaten the Umbrella singer.

Mr Brown, 19, is to appear in court later today charged with assault likely to cause bodily injury and making criminal threats in the early hours of February 8.

Los Angeles police arrested Mr Brown later that day and charged him with threatening behaviour. Officers said at the time that a woman had identified him as her attacker following a dispute in an exclusive Los Angeles neighbourhood.

In a statement, the LAPD said that Mr Brown and a woman, who they have refused to name as Rihanna for confidentiality reasons, had started arguing in his rented Lamborghini.

Mr Brown pulled over, the pair got out, and the argument escalated into an "alleged domestic violence felony battery".

"The woman suffered visible injuries and identified Brown as her attacker," the statement said.

Speculation mounted over whether Mr Brown would face charges over the incident after he and Rihanna reportedly reconciled over the weekend.

He issued an apology for the incident on February 15. He said: “Words cannot begin to express how sorry and saddened I am over what transpired.

“I am seeking the counselling of my pastor, my mother and other loved ones and I am committed, with God’s help, to emerging a better person."

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