Award-winning grime artist and actor Ghetts (real name Justin Clarke-Samuel) was sentenced yesterday to 12 years in prison for causing the death of a 20-year-old Nepalese student while driving under the influence and at excessive speeds.
The 41-year-old, known for his roles in the Netflix series “Supacell” and collaborations with artists like Stormzy and Ed Sheeran, also received a 17-year driving disqualification, marking a stark fall from grace for one of the UK’s prominent figures in music and entertainment.
The sentencing at the Old Bailey, presided over by Judge Mark Lucraft KC, brought closure to a tragic case that unfolded on the night of October 18, 2025, in Ilford, East London.
Clarke-Samuel had been drinking at Omi Lounge in central London’s Wells Street earlier that evening, leaving him one-and-a-half times over the legal drink-drive limit when he got behind the wheel of his black BMW.
CCTV footage presented in court revealed a harrowing sequence of reckless behavior: the rapper ran through six red traffic lights, veered onto the wrong side of the road, mounted curbs, and collided with a motorcyclist and a Mercedes vehicle before the fatal impact. Traveling at 67 mph in a 30 mph residential zone on Redbridge Lane, he struck Yubin Tamang, who was crossing the road on his way home from work.
Tamang, an only child from Nepal who had relocated to the UK to pursue what he believed was “the best degree in the world,” suffered catastrophic injuries and died in hospital two days later.
His mother, Sharmila Tamang, delivered a heart-wrenching statement in court, weeping as she described the loss: “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.” Tamang’s roommate, Sushant Khadka, echoed the sentiment, noting that Yubin “had dreams, ambition, and plans for his future,” and that the incident had “permanently affected the lives of others.”
Clarke-Samuel did not stop at the scene, instead driving eight miles back to his home without calling emergency services. He was arrested the following morning after police traced the damaged vehicle to his address, where officers detected the smell of alcohol on his breath.
In his defense, the rapper claimed he drove dangerously because he feared he was being followed, a paranoia stemming from a previous robbery at gunpoint. However, prosecutors found no evidence of any pursuit in the extensive CCTV footage reviewed. Judge Lucraft described the events as a “quite appalling litany of incidents” and the collision itself as “simply shocking.”
This is not Clarke-Samuel’s first brush with the law. Court records revealed he has 12 previous convictions for 27 offenses dating back to age 16, including robbery, aggravated vehicle taking, and multiple driving violations.
Despite this history, the judge acknowledged the defendant’s “genuine remorse,” supported by letters from his partner and community figures highlighting his positive contributions through music. Ghetts, a father of two, has built a notable career in grime, performing at Glastonbury multiple times—most recently in 2024—and winning the best male act at the 2021 Mobo awards, along with the Mobo pioneer award in 2024.
The case has ignited public outrage and discussions on road safety and accountability, particularly among celebrities. On social media platform X, users expressed shock and drew parallels to similar incidents elsewhere. One post lamented, “A life was lost.
The court responded decisively, while contrasting it with perceived leniency in other countries. Another highlighted the irony of Clarke-Samuel’s expressed “extreme regret, shame, and remorse” in statements to the court.
Reactions ranged from calls for stricter drink-driving laws to reflections on the devastating impact on Tamang’s family, with one user noting, “This is what happens when you are in a working system.”
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Ghetts (Justin Clarke-Samuel), a celebrated British grime artist and actor, has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for causing the death of 20-year-old Nepalese student Yubin Tamang in a hit-and-run crash in Ilford, East London, on October 18, 2025.
Ghetts was driving at 67 mph in a 30 mph zone, one-and-a-half times over the drink-drive limit, ran multiple red lights, and failed to stop after striking and fatally injuring Tamang, who was simply crossing the road on his way home.
