Niamh Shackleton
Award-winning rapper Ghetts has been jailed for killing a student in a hit and run while speeding and over the drink-drive limit.
The grime artist, whose real name is Justin Clarke-Samuel, failed to stop after his BMW hit Nepalese national Yubin Tamang, 20, in north-east London.
The 41-year-old defendant admitted causing death by dangerous driving and dangerous driving.
In a televised sentencing at the Old Bailey, Judge Mark Lucraft KC handed him 12 years in prison and disqualified him from driving for 17 years.
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He told Clarke-Samuel that CCTV footage showed a 'quite appalling litany of incidents' leading up to the fatal collision which was 'simply shocking'.
The rapper is also known for starring in the hit Netflix series Supacell, which boasts a rare 100 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes.
The judge noted the father-of-two’s 'genuine remorse' and letters of support including from his partner setting out how he had used his career in music to make a positive impact on his community.
Prosecutor Philip McGhee said Clarke-Samuel had been drinking alcohol at Omi Lounge in Wells Street in central London on the evening of Saturday, October 18, 2025. The rapper as was charged a few days later.
He was said to be one-and-a-half times over the legal drink-drive limit and was driving at speeds of more than 70mph before the crash.
As he drove his BMW M5 at speed back towards his home in Woodford, east London, he failed to stop at six red traffic lights, the court was told.
He repeatedly veered on to the wrong side of the road, mounted the curb and collided with a motorcyclist and a Mercedes, causing damage.
He was going 67mph in a 30mph zone before he hit Tamang as he crossed Redbridge Lane, Ilford, at 11.33pm.
The prosecutor said that the 20-year-old student 'could do nothing to avoid a collision' as he was crossing the road.
McGhee went on: "The defendant’s BMW ploughed into him. Mr Tamang was catapulted into the air before crashing down on the roadway. He sustained catastrophic injuries."
The defendant made no call to emergency services and Tamang died in hospital from his injuries two days later.
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