Grime artist Ghetts, whose real name is Justin Clarke-Samuel, has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for causing the death of a student in a hit-and-run crash while speeding and over the drink-drive limit. The 20-year-old victim, Yubin Tamang, a Nepalese national studying in the UK, was struck by Clarke-Samuel's BMW in Ilford, north-east London, on 18 October 2025. He died in hospital two days later.
The court heard that Clarke-Samuel had been drinking at a central London bar before driving at speeds exceeding 70mph in a 30mph zone. He failed to stop at six red traffic lights, veered onto the wrong side of the road, and collided with a motorcyclist and a Mercedes before hitting Tamang. After the crash, he drove eight miles home without stopping or calling emergency services.
Police arrested Clarke-Samuel at his home the following morning, detecting alcohol on his breath. He was found to be one-and-a-half times over the legal drink-drive limit. The judge, Mark Lucraft KC, described the driving as a 'quite appalling litany of incidents' and 'simply shocking'. Clarke-Samuel admitted causing death by dangerous driving.
Tamang's mother, Sharmila Tamang, wept in court as she said: 'My son had come for his studies to this place but, because of somebody's mistakes, he has died at a very small age. Yubin was our only child.' The court also heard from his roommate, who said Tamang had 'dreams, ambition, plans for his future'.
Clarke-Samuel, a father of two, had 12 previous convictions for 27 crimes, including robbery and driving offences. His lawyer argued that he drove dangerously due to fear from a previous robbery, but no evidence of a pursuit was found. The judge acknowledged his 'genuine remorse' and positive community work through music. In addition to the prison term, Clarke-Samuel was disqualified from driving for 17 years.
