Grime artist Ghetts, real name Justin Clarke-Samuel, has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for causing the death of 20-year-old student Yubin Tamang in a hit-and-run crash while speeding and over the drink-drive limit. The incident occurred in north-east London on 18 October 2025.
The Old Bailey heard that Clarke-Samuel, 41, was driving his BMW at speeds exceeding 70mph in a 30mph zone before striking Tamang as he crossed Redbridge Lane in Ilford. 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 prior to the fatal crash. After hitting Tamang, he drove eight miles home without calling emergency services. Tamang died in hospital two days later.
Prosecutor Philip McGhee stated that Clarke-Samuel was one-and-a-half times over the legal drink-drive limit, having consumed alcohol at a central London bar earlier that evening. Police arrested him at his home in the early hours of the following day, smelling alcohol on his breath. His black BMW was found with significant damage.
Tamang's mother, Sharmila Tamang, wept in court as she described her son as their only child who came to the UK for studies, saying, 'Because of somebody’s mistakes, he has died at a very small age.' His roommate, Sushant Khadka, noted Tamang's 'dreams, ambition, plans for his future.'
Clarke-Samuel admitted dangerous driving and causing death by dangerous driving. His lawyer argued that he drove dangerously due to a fear of being followed, stemming from a prior armed robbery, but CCTV found no evidence of pursuit. The judge, Mark Lucraft KC, described the driving as 'simply shocking' and noted a 'quite appalling litany of incidents.' Clarke-Samuel, who has 12 previous convictions for 27 crimes, was also disqualified from driving for 17 years.
Ghetts, a father-of-two, is a well-known figure in UK grime, having collaborated with artists like Skepta, Stormzy, and Ed Sheeran, and performed at Glastonbury. He won Best Male Act at the 2021 MOBO Awards and received the MOBO Pioneer Award in 2024.
