Award-winning rapper Ghetts has been jailed for 12 years at The Old Bailey for killing a university student in a fatal hit and run. He was speeding and over the drink-drive limit.
The grime artist, whose real name is Justin Clarke-Samuel, failed to stop after his BMW hit Nepalese national Yubin Tamang, 20, in north-east London.
Prosecutor Philip McGhee said Clarke-Samuel had been drinking alcohol on the evening of Saturday, 18 October 2025.
The court heard he was one and a half times over the legal drink-drive limit and drove at speeds of up to 70mph before the crash.
Clarke-Samuel admitted to drinking three glasses of Brandy with a meal at a restaurant. He later indicated he had been at Omi Lounge in Wells Street on the 18th October 2025.
The court was told he failed to stop at six red traffic lights as he drove his BMW M5 at speed back to his Woodford home.
He repeatedly veered onto the wrong side of the road, mounted the curb and collided with a motorcyclist and a Mercedes.
He was going more than 60mph in a 30mph road before he hit Mr Tamang as he crossed Redbridge Lane, Ilford, at 11.33pm.
Clarke-Samuel continued to drive home and made no call to emergency services. Mr Tamang died in hospital from his injuries two days later.
A CCTV compilation of Clarke-Samuel’s driving was played to the court, including the moment he hit Mr Tamang.
Afterwards, an Uber driver saw what he initially thought was a “bundle of clothes in the road”. He called 999 when he realised Mr Tamang was seriously injured.
Another motorist stopped and performed first aid before emergency services arrived.
Police went to Clarke-Samuel’s home in Woodford in the early hours of the following morning to arrest him.
Officers found his black BMW with a smashed windscreen and damage to the front bumper.
Crying in court, Mr Tamang’s mother Sharmila Tamang said: “My son had come for studies to this place but because of somebody’s mistakes he has died at a very small age. Yubin was our only child.”
Clarke-Samuel had written a letter apologising to Mr Tamang’s family.
This was read to the court: “I write from a place of extreme regret, shame and remorse. I am fully aware that there are no number of apologies that I can say which will soothe the pain that the family and friends of Mr Tamang must feel. ”
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HeadlineEast London rapper jailed for 12 years for fatal hit and run
Short HeadlineEast London rapper jailed for hit and run
StandfirstGrime artist Ghetts drove up to 70mph through north-east London last year and hit Justin Clarke-Samuel
Award-winning rapper Ghetts has been jailed for 12 years at The Old Bailey for killing a university student in a fatal hit and run. He was speeding and over the drink-drive limit.
The grime artist, whose real name is Justin Clarke-Samuel, failed to stop after his BMW hit Nepalese national Yubin Tamang, 20, in north-east London.
Prosecutor Philip McGhee said Clarke-Samuel had been drinking alcohol on the evening of Saturday, 18 October 2025.
The court heard he was one and a half times over the legal drink-drive limit and drove at speeds of up to 70mph before the crash.
Clarke-Samuel admitted to drinking three glasses of Brandy with a meal at a restaurant. He later indicated he had been at Omi Lounge in Wells Street on the 18th October 2025.
The court was told he failed to stop at six red traffic lights as he drove his BMW M5 at speed back to his Woodford home.
He repeatedly veered onto the wrong side of the road, mounted the curb and collided with a motorcyclist and a Mercedes.
He was going more than 60mph in a 30mph road before he hit Mr Tamang as he crossed Redbridge Lane, Ilford, at 11.33pm.
Clarke-Samuel continued to drive home and made no call to emergency services. Mr Tamang died in hospital from his injuries two days later.
A CCTV compilation of Clarke-Samuel’s driving was played to the court, including the moment he hit Mr Tamang.
Afterwards, an Uber driver saw what he initially thought was a “bundle of clothes in the road”. He called 999 when he realised Mr Tamang was seriously injured.
Another motorist stopped and performed first aid before emergency services arrived.
Police went to Clarke-Samuel’s home in Woodford in the early hours of the following morning to arrest him.
Officers found his black BMW with a smashed windscreen and damage to the front bumper.
Crying in court, Mr Tamang’s mother Sharmila Tamang said: “My son had come for studies to this place but because of somebody’s mistakes he has died at a very small age. Yubin was our only child.”
Clarke-Samuel had written a letter apologising to Mr Tamang’s family.
This was read to the court: “I write from a place of extreme regret, shame and remorse. I am fully aware that there are no number of apologies that I can say which will soothe the pain that the family and friends of Mr Tamang must feel. ”
