Award-winning rapper Ghetts, real name Justin Clarke-Samuel, has admitted causing the death of a 20-year-old Nepali student in a high-speed hit-and-run collision in north-east London — a revelation that has sent shockwaves through the UK music scene.
Clarke-Samuel, 41, appeared via videolink from Pentonville Prison, where he is currently being held, and pleaded guilty to causing the death of Yubin Tamang by dangerous driving. The court heard that the celebrated grime artist was driving over 60mph in a 30mph zone when his BMW struck Tamang as he crossed Redbridge Lane, Ilford, at about 11:30pm on 18 October.
Tamang, an only child whose parents had sent him to the UK to pursue an education, was rushed to hospital but tragically died two days later. His death has triggered an outpouring of grief within the Nepali community and beyond.
Police said Clarke-Samuel failed to stop at the scene, and officers later found his black BMW M5 — registered and insured in his name — with significant damage outside his Woodford address the following morning.
The rapper also admitted a second charge of dangerous driving committed earlier the same day on roads across Camden, Islington and Hackney. Two additional charges — causing death by careless driving while over the alcohol limit, and another dangerous driving charge in Redbridge — will be addressed at sentencing.
Prosecutors allege Clarke-Samuel was driving with 119 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath — more than three times the legal limit.
The judge made it clear that Clarke-Samuel should brace for a prison sentence, though the length will be determined when he returns to court on 12 February. He has also been disqualified from driving, pending a final ruling on the duration of the ban.
Detective Inspector Mark Braithwaite of the Met Police said the case was a stark reminder of the irreversible damage caused by reckless driving.
“Split-second decisions behind the wheel can have devastating, life-changing consequences,” he said, sending condolences to Tamang’s grieving family.
“Nothing can undo their loss, but today’s guilty pleas mark a step toward justice.”
Ghetts, one of grime’s most influential and respected figures, rose from London’s underground to global acclaim with collaborations featuring Stormzy, Ed Sheeran, and Skepta. He has performed multiple times at Glastonbury, earned a Mercury Prize nomination, won Best Male Act at the 2021 MOBO Awards, and received the 2024 MOBO Pioneer Award for his contribution to British Black culture.
Now, his storied career stands overshadowed by a tragedy that has left a family shattered — and a nation stunned.
Sentencing is scheduled for 12 February, where the full weight of the law will determine the rapper’s future.
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