Grime star Ghetts jailed for 12 years over deadly 60mph hit-and-run

Rapper and actor Justin Clarke-Samuel, known as Ghetts, has been sentenced to 12 years in prison at the Old Bailey for the "shocking" hit-and-run killing of a 20-year-old student.

The 41-year-old admitted causing the death of Yubin Tamang by dangerous driving after striking him with his BMW M5 while travelling at double the speed limit in Ilford on 18 October 2025.

Judge Mark Lucraft KC described the lead-up to the fatal collision as an "appalling litany of incidents," handing Clarke-Samuel a 17-year driving ban alongside the custodial term.

The court heard the Mercury Prize-nominee was one-and-a-half times the drink-drive limit and had bypassed six red lights and mounted kerbs before the impact on Redbridge Lane East.

Prosecutor Philip McGhee told the court that Mr Tamang, an only child from Nepal, was "catapulted into the air" by the force of the 60mph collision before crashing onto the roadway.

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Clarke-Samuel failed to stop at the scene, with an Uber driver later discovering the victim’s body after initially mistaking it for a "bundle of clothes" in the road.

Police traced the rapper to his Woodford Green home after finding a damaged wing mirror casing at the scene with a serial number linked to his registered vehicle.

In a heartbreaking statement, the victim’s family told the court their hearts were "broken beyond repair" and stated they could "never forgive" the defendant for stealing their son's future.

Defending counsel Ben Aina KC read a letter from Clarke-Samuel expressing "extreme regret, shame and remorse," claiming the incident was an "unintentional act."

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However, the court noted the defendant’s extensive criminal record, which includes 12 previous convictions for 27 offences including robbery and aggravated vehicle taking.

The rapper’s claim that he was driving erratically because he feared he was being followed was dismissed by the judge after CCTV showed no evidence of any pursuit.

Shani Taggart of the CPS stated that Clarke-Samuel "knew he was in no fit state to drive" and showed a "total disregard for road users" throughout the fatal journey.

The 12-year sentence marks one of the most significant terms handed down for death by dangerous driving following recent sentencing guideline uplifts for "level one" offenders.

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The judge emphasized that no amount of professional success or celebrity status could mitigate the "catastrophic" consequences of the defendant’s decision to drive while intoxicated.

Clarke-Samuel will serve at least two-thirds of his sentence in custody before being eligible for release on licence.