Award-winning rapper Ghetts has been sentenced to 12 years in prison after killing a university student in a hit-and-run collision in Ilford.
Justin Clarke-Samuel, 41, was convicted of causing death by dangerous driving and dangerous driving following the death of Yubin Tamang, 20, on 18 October 2025.
The Old Bailey heard Clarke-Samuel was driving his BMW M5 at speeds of up to 70mph while one and a half times over the legal drink-drive limit. Prosecutors said he failed to stop at six red traffic lights, drove on the wrong side of the road, mounted kerbs and collided with other vehicles before striking Mr Tamang as he crossed Redbridge Lane at 11.33pm.
Mr Tamang was thrown into the air and sustained catastrophic injuries. Clarke-Samuel continued driving for around eight miles over a period of approximately 15 minutes before reaching his home in Woodford. He did not contact emergency services. Mr Tamang died in hospital two days later.
Judge Mark Lucraft KC said CCTV footage showed a “quite appalling litany of incidents” leading up to the fatal collision. Clarke-Samuel was also disqualified from driving for 17 years.
The court heard he initially claimed he feared he was being followed, but CCTV analysis found no evidence of pursuit. He has 12 previous convictions for 27 offences.
In a statement read to the court, Mr Tamang’s mother said her son had come to the UK to study and described him as her only child with ambitions for the future.
In mitigation, Clarke-Samuel expressed remorse in a letter to the family, describing the incident as unintentional. His counsel said he had previously been the victim of an armed robbery and often avoided driving at night.
Clarke-Samuel, known professionally as Ghetts, has collaborated with leading artists and received multiple awards, including recognition at the MOBO Awards.