Award-winning British rapper Ghetts, whose real name is Justin Clarke-Samuel, has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for causing the death of a university student in a hit-and-run collision in north-east London.
The 41-year-old was sentenced at the Old Bailey after previously pleading guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and an additional charge of dangerous driving.
Career Highlights and Netflix Role
Aside from his music, Ghetts has also gained recognition as an actor. He appeared in Netflix’s hit sci-fi drama series Supacell, in which he played a character named Krazy, a villainous figure in the show. Supacell follows a group of South Londoners who develop super-powers and face conflicts with powerful adversaries.
Before his Netflix role, Ghetts had appeared in films such as The Intent 2: The Come Up and other TV projects, showing that his career extended beyond music into acting.
Victim Identified
The victim, Yubin Tamang, 20, was struck while crossing Redbridge Lane East in Ilford on the evening of 18 October 2025. He suffered catastrophic injuries and died in the hospital two days later.
Tamang was a university student from Nepal and the only child of his parents.
Court Findings
Prosecutors told the court that Clarke-Samuel was driving his BMW M5 at more than 60mph in a 30mph zone at the time of the collision.
The court heard that:
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He had been drinking and was around one and a half times over the legal alcohol limit.
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He failed to stop at six red traffic lights.
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He veered onto the wrong side of the road multiple times.
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He collided with a motorcyclist and another vehicle before the fatal crash.
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He did not stop after striking Tamang.
Judge Mark Lucraft KC described CCTV footage as showing a “quite appalling litany of incidents” and said the driving was “simply shocking.”
Clarke-Samuel was also disqualified from driving for 17 years.
Aftermath of the Crash
An Uber driver who initially thought he had seen a “bundle of clothes” in the road called emergency services after realising it was a seriously injured person.
Police later traced a damaged wing mirror casing left at the scene back to Clarke-Samuel’s vehicle, which was found near his home in Woodford Green with significant front-end damage.
The rapper initially claimed he had been driving erratically because he believed someone was following him, but no evidence of a pursuit was found.
Family Statement
In a statement read to the court, Tamang’s family said their hearts were “broken beyond repair,” describing their son as a “precious soul” whose future had been taken from him.
They added that they could never forgive the defendant for what he had done.
Defendant’s Apology
In mitigation, Clarke-Samuel expressed “extreme regret, shame and remorse,” stating the incident was unintentional and apologising directly to the family.
The court also heard he has 12 previous convictions for 27 offences, including robbery and driving-related crimes.
The Crown Prosecution Service said the sentence reflects the seriousness of the decision to drive while unfit through alcohol and excessive speed.
Clarke-Samuel will now serve his custodial sentence, with the driving ban taking effect upon release.
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