Grime artist Ghetts has been jailed after admitting to causing the death of 20-year-old Yubin Tamang in a high-speed crash in northeast London. The rapper, whose real name is Justin Clarke-Samuel, pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving following the incident in Ilford last October. The 41-year-old was driving his BMW M5 at nearly 74mph in a 30mph zone when he struck Mr. Tamang as he crossed Redbridge Lane at 11:33 pm on 18 October.
Mr. Tamang, who had moved to the UK from Nepal to study and build a better future, died in hospital two days later from his injuries. The case has sent shockwaves through both the music industry and the wider public, not only because of the severity of the crash, but because of what followed.
A Night of Reckless Decisions
The court heard that in October 2025, Clarke-Samuel had been socialising in central London before driving recklessly through Camden, Islington, and Hackney. CCTV showed him driving on the wrong side of the road and narrowly missing a cyclist. Tragically, just after 11:30 pm on… pic.twitter.com/tc2vZOTvvf
— UB1UB2 West London (Southall) (@UB1UB2) March 3, 2026
Prosecutors told the court that Clarke-Samuel had been driving at excessive speed moments before impact. CCTV footage presented in court showed what Judge Mark Lucraft KC described as a “quite appalling litany of incidents” leading up to the fatal collision.
The vehicle hit Mr. Tamang at approximately 67mph — more than double the legal speed limit — throwing him into the air before he crashed onto the road.
Instead of stopping, Clarke-Samuel continued driving for around eight miles to his home. The court heard that after arriving home, he consumed six or seven shots of Ciroc vodka and a cannabis-infused cookie.
When police later arrested him, the BMW was found parked near his home with severe damage: a smashed windscreen, heavy bonnet markings, front bumper destruction, and a missing wing mirror cover.
The judge described the events as “simply shocking.”
Clarke-Samuel claimed he had been driving dangerously because he believed someone was following him. However, CCTV evidence showed no indication of a pursuit.
Victim’s Family: “Our Hearts Are Broken Beyond Repair”
In emotional statements read after sentencing, Mr. Tamang’s parents described a grief that words could barely capture.
“We speak today with hearts broken beyond repair,” a spokesperson said on their behalf.
“Our only child, a precious soul, has been taken from us far too soon. He came to the UK to study and create a better life for himself and his family. Justin Clarke-Samuel has stolen our son’s future and ours with it.”
Mr. Tamang’s mother, Sharmila Tamang, broke down in court earlier while describing the “extreme pain” and “unimaginable sense of loss” of losing her only child.
While the family acknowledged Clarke-Samuel’s guilty plea and imprisonment, they made it clear that forgiveness was not possible.
Expression of Remorse in Court
Clarke-Samuel has been in custody since his preliminary appearance at Barkingside Magistrates’ Court on 27 October.
Dressed in black and sitting with his eyes closed as the sentence was handed down, he reportedly showed little outward emotion in the dock.
Through his defence counsel, Benjamin Aina KC, Clarke-Samuel submitted a letter expressing what was described as “extreme regret, shame and remorse.”
“I write from a place of extreme regret, shame, and remorse,” the letter read. “I cannot express the enormous feeling of guilt and shame for the suffering I have caused.”
He apologised to Mr Tamang’s family, the wider community, his own family, and the court, stating: “I offer no excuses, and I have let my family and community down.”
The judge acknowledged what he described as genuine remorse, along with Clarke-Samuel’s community contributions and charitable work.
“Your music has provided you with a following and a significant financial reward,” Judge Lucraft said. “I acknowledge that you have used that to good effect and done much to support many others.”
He added, however, that it was a “real shame” that such work was now overshadowed by the fatal consequences of drink-driving and dangerous behaviour.
Additional Collisions and Ghetts Driving History
The court also heard that earlier that same night, Clarke-Samuel had been involved in another collision with a Mercedes and had narrowly avoided hitting a cyclist.
In December, he admitted to dangerous driving offences in Tavistock Place in Bloomsbury, as well as on roads across Camden, Islington, and Hackney in the lead-up to the fatal crash.
His criminal history includes 12 previous convictions for 27 offences dating back to 2000, including robbery, aggravated vehicle taking, and dangerous driving.
Prosecutor Philip McGhee emphasised that Clarke-Samuel knew he was not fit to drive and demonstrated a disregard for other road users across multiple boroughs.
Shani Taggart of the Crown Prosecution Service said the sentence reflects the consequences of a “fatal decision to get behind the wheel of a car after drinking.”
Detective Sergeant Faye Cook, who led the Metropolitan Police investigation, said she hopes the outcome brings “some measure of comfort” to the Tamang family and serves as a warning about the devastating consequences of dangerous driving.
Who Is Ghetts?
For many, the name Ghetts carries weight in British music culture.
A two-time Mercury Prize nominee, the East London rapper has collaborated with major artists including Skepta, Stormzy, and Ed Sheeran. He has performed multiple times at Glastonbury Festival, including a 2024 appearance.
In 2021, he won Best Male Act at the MOBO Awards and received the MOBO Pioneer Award in 2024, recognising his contribution to UK music.
Beyond music, he appeared in the Netflix sci-fi drama Supacell, playing a gang leader named Krazy in the story of five South Londoners who unexpectedly develop superpowers.
For fans, collaborators, and industry insiders, the sentencing marks a deeply troubling chapter in an otherwise celebrated career.
A Life Lost, A Legacy Altered
Rapper Ghetts jailed for 12 years for killing student in hit-and-run https://t.co/uV0C6MUy5R
— BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) March 3, 2026
At the centre of this story is not fame, accolades, or reputation — but a 20-year-old student who crossed the world to chase opportunity and never made it home.
Yubin Tamang’s future was full of possibilities. His parents’ grief is permanent.
For Ghetts, the sentence closes a legal chapter but leaves a personal reckoning that will likely last far longer.
For the public, it stands as another painful reminder: a few reckless decisions behind the wheel can permanently alter multiple lives in seconds.
Featured image: Getty Images
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