‘Regret, Shame, and Remorse’

‘Regret, Shame, and Remorse’: Rapper Ghetts Jailed for 12 Years Over Fatal Hit-and-Run

LONDON — Award-winning grime pioneer Ghetts has been sentenced to 12 years in prison following a harrowing, high-speed hit-and-run that claimed the life of a 20-year-old university student.

The rapper, whose real name is Justin Clarke-Samuel, appeared at the Old Bailey on Tuesday for a televised sentencing that has sent shockwaves through the UK music industry. Judge Mark Lucraft KC handed down the custodial sentence along with a 17-year driving disqualification, describing the events leading up to the tragedy as a “quite appalling litany of incidents.”

A Night of "Erratic" Driving

The court heard that on the night of October 18, 2025, Clarke-Samuel had been drinking at the Omi Lounge in central London. Following the evening out, he got behind the wheel of his BMW M5 and began a 30-minute journey back to his home in Woodford that was captured on a "shocking" trail of CCTV footage.

According to prosecutor Philip McGhee, Clarke-Samuel:

• Drove at speeds of up to 74 mph in a 30 mph zone.

• Ignored six red traffic lights and repeatedly veered onto the wrong side of the road.

• Mounted the curb and collided with both a Mercedes and a motorcyclist before the fatal encounter.

At 11:33 p.m., as Nepalese national Yubin Tamang was crossing Redbridge Lane in Ilford, Clarke-Samuel’s vehicle "ploughed into him" at more than double the speed limit. Tamang was catapulted into the air, sustaining catastrophic injuries. He tragically died in the hospital two days later.

“Simply Shocking” Failure to Stop

Judge Lucraft highlighted the "simply shocking" fact that Clarke-Samuel failed to stop after the collision or call emergency services. Instead, the 41-year-old rapper drove the remaining eight miles home.

Police arrested him the following morning at his residence, where officers noted he still smelled of alcohol. While Clarke-Samuel initially claimed he was driving dangerously because he believed he was being followed, the prosecution successfully disproved this "belief" through forensic CCTV analysis.

An Only Child’s Dreams Cut Short

The courtroom was filled with emotion as the family of Yubin Tamang shared the devastating impact of the loss. Tamang had moved to the UK to pursue a degree he believed was "the best in the world."

“My son was our only child,” his mother, Sharmila Tamang, said through tears. “Because of somebody’s mistakes, he has died at a very small age. He had dreams, ambition, and plans for his future.”

Legacy Tainted by Tragedy

The sentencing marks a somber fall for an artist who reached the pinnacle of his genre. Ghetts, a two-time Mercury Prize nominee and 2024 MOBO Pioneer Award recipient, had recently expanded into acting with a role in the Netflix hit Supacell.

In a letter of mitigation read by his lawyer, Ben Aina KC, Clarke-Samuel expressed profound guilt.

“I write from a place of extreme regret, shame, and remorse,” the letter stated. “It was truly an unintentional act on my part and I am so sincerely sorry... I fully understand that I must face consequences.”

While the judge noted the rapper’s genuine remorse and his history of mentoring young people in his community, the gravity of the "fatal decision" to drive while intoxicated led to one of the most significant sentences for dangerous driving in recent years. Clarke-Samuel will serve at least two-thirds of his 12-year term before being eligible for license.