Award-winning rapper Ghetts, whose real name is Justin Clarke-Samuel, has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for the death of a student in a hit-and-run collision in north-east London. The 41-year-old was sentenced at the Old Bailey after previously admitting to causing the death of 20-year-old Yubin Tamang by dangerous driving.
Tamang, a university student from Nepal, tragically passed away in hospital two days after being struck by Clarke-Samuel's car on Redbridge Lane East, Ilford, on the evening of October 18th, 2025. The court heard that Clarke-Samuel had been driving at more than 60mph in a 30mph zone when his BMW M5 hit Tamang as he crossed the road. He failed to stop at the scene.
Judge Mark Lucraft KC also disqualified Clarke-Samuel from driving for 17 years, stating that CCTV footage revealed a "quite appalling litany of incidents" leading up to the fatal collision that were "simply shocking." The prosecutor, Philip McGhee, outlined that Clarke-Samuel had been drinking alcohol on the evening of the crash and was said to be one and a half times over the legal limit.
The defendant initially claimed he had drunk three glasses of brandy with a meal at a restaurant. As he drove his BMW M5 at speed back towards his home in Woodford, he failed to stop at six red traffic lights and repeatedly veered onto the wrong side of the road, mounting the kerb and colliding with a motorcyclist and a Mercedes, causing damage.
McGhee stated that Tamang was crossing the road when he was struck by Clarke-Samuel's car. "Mr Tamang was catapulted into the air before crashing down on the roadway. He sustained catastrophic injuries," McGhee said.
In a statement, Tamang's family expressed their deep sorrow, stating, "We speak today with hearts broken beyond repair. Our only child, a precious soul, has been taken from us far too soon." They added, "Justin Clarke-Samuel has stolen our son's future and ours with it... we can never forgive him for what he has done."
The court was shown a compilation of Clarke-Samuel's erratic driving, including footage of the moment he hit Tamang. The defendant had claimed he had driven dangerously because he feared someone was following him, but no evidence of a pursuit was found in the footage.
After the crash, an Uber driver saw what he initially thought was a "bundle of clothes in the road" and called 999 upon realizing Tamang was seriously injured. Police found a damaged wing mirror casing on the road and traced the serial number to Clarke-Samuel's vehicle. Officers later located the car near his home, with significant damage to the windscreen, bonnet, and front bumper.
In December, Clarke-Samuel pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey to causing death by dangerous driving and an additional charge of dangerous driving. In mitigation, Ben Aina KC read out extracts of a letter Clarke-Samuel had written apologizing to Tamang's family. The rapper expressed "extreme regret, shame, and remorse" over Tamang's death. He added, "This may be the only chance that I get to apologize. It was truly an unintentional act on my part, and I am so sincerely sorry for the suffering and emotional distress that I have caused."
The court heard that Clarke-Samuel had 12 previous convictions for 27 crimes from the age of 16, including robbery, aggravated vehicle taking, and driving offenses. Shani Taggart, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said, "Justin Clarke-Samuel knew he was in no fit state to drive and there was clear evidence of his excessive speed and disregard for road users as he drove incredibly dangerously across our city." She added, "Today's sentence will see Clarke-Samuel face the consequences of his fatal decision to get behind the wheel of a car after drinking."
Our thoughts remain with Yubin Tamang's family today as they grieve the loss of their only child and with his loved ones who have to navigate a life without him.
