British Rapper Ghetts Sentenced to 12 Years for Fatal Hit-and-Run in London
British rapper and actor Ghetts, whose real name is Justin Clarke-Samuel, has been handed a 12-year prison sentence for a fatal hit-and-run incident that claimed the life of a 20-year-old student in London last year. The musician pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and an additional count of dangerous driving during a hearing at the Old Bailey on Tuesday, March 3, 2026.
The Fatal Incident: A Tragic Collision in Ilford
According to court proceedings and a BBC report, the crash occurred on October 18, 2025, in Ilford, East London. Clarke-Samuel struck Nepalese student Yubin Tamang as he was crossing the road. Prosecutors detailed that the rapper was driving at approximately 60–67 mph in a residential zone with a 30-mph speed limit. He had consumed alcohol prior to getting behind the wheel, with his blood-alcohol level recorded at roughly 1.5 times the legal limit.
CCTV footage presented in court revealed a harrowing sequence of events in the minutes leading up to the collision. The video showed Clarke-Samuel running multiple red lights, veering onto the wrong side of the road, and mounting the curb. Judge Mark Lucraft KC, as reported by The Guardian, described the evidence as displaying a "quite appalling litany of incidents" and labeled the behavior "simply shocking."
Following the impact, Ghetts failed to stop at the scene or call emergency services. Instead, he drove approximately eight miles back to his home, where he was arrested hours later. Tragically, Yubin Tamang succumbed to his injuries in hospital two days after the collision.
Sentencing and Career Consequences
Judge Lucraft sentenced Justin Clarke-Samuel to 12 years in prison and disqualified him from driving for 17 years following his release. While the court acknowledged the rapper's "genuine remorse" and considered letters of support from his partner and others praising his community work through music, it emphasized the severe gravity of the offence.
The conviction has immediate repercussions for Ghetts' professional career. Show-business outlets have reported that he will not reprise his role in the upcoming second season of Netflix's popular series 'Supracell'. Producers have not yet publicly elaborated on how his character will be written out of the show, but his absence is confirmed due to the legal proceedings.
This case highlights the devastating consequences of dangerous and intoxicated driving, resulting in the loss of a young life and a significant prison term for the acclaimed artist.
