breaking
Netflix star and rapper Ghetts jailed for 12 years for killing student in hit-and-run
The grime artist was speeding and over the drink-drive limit at the time
Ghetts has been jailed for 12 years for killing a student in a hit and run while speeding and over the drink-drive limit.
The rapper pleaded guilty in December to causing death by dangerous driving as well as two further charges of driving dangerously before and after the crash on 18 October 2025.
Real name Justin Clarke-Samuel, the 41-year-old failed to stop after his BMW M5 hit Nepalese national Yubin Tamang, 20.
The student died two days after being hit by the Netflix actor in Ilford, northeast London.
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His mum, Sharmila Tamang said through tears in court: "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.
“My son had come for his studies to the UK saying the UK had the best degree in the world. But on his way back from his work this happened and he lost his life.”
Judge Mark Lucraft KC gave Ghetts 12 years in prison along with disqualifying him from driving for 17 years at today's (3 March) sentencing.
He told the musician that CCTV footage showed a 'quite appalling litany of incidents' leading up to the fatal collision which was 'simply shocking'.
Clarke-Samuel was said to be one-and-a-half times over the legal drink-drive limit and driving at speeds of over 70mph before the crash.
The court heard how while he was driving back at speed towards his home in Woodford, east London, he failed to stop at six red traffic lights.
He repeatedly veered on to the wrong side of the road, mounted the curb and collided with a motorcyclist and a Mercedes, causing damage.
The grime artist was going at 67mph in a 30mph zone before he hit Tamang at 11:33pm.
Prosecutor Philip McGhee said: "Mr Tamang was still crossing the road. He could do nothing to avoid a collision. The defendant’s BMW ploughed into him. Mr Tamang was catapulted into the air before crashing down on the roadway. He sustained catastrophic injuries.”
Clarke-Samuel failed to stop and continued to drive eight miles home, making no call to emergency services.
The court was told he claimed he'd driven dangerously because he feared someone was following him but there was no evidence of a pursuit found on CCTV.
In mitigation, Ben Aina KC read out extracts of a letter Clarke-Samuel had written apologising to Tamang’s family.
The rapper stated: “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.
“This may be the only chance that I get to apologise. 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.
“I fully understand that I must face consequences for my actions and I accept that I must now be punished. I hope through the process of punishment and rehabilitation I can still add some contribution to my community."
Jess Battison