LONDON — British rapper Ghetts has been sentenced to 12 years in jail for killing a 20-year-old Nepali scholar in a London hit-and-run final 12 months.
Ghetts, whose actual identify is Justin Clarke-Samuel, was dashing and drunk as he drove erratically earlier than the incident in October 2025, in response to prosecutors.
Clarke-Samuel, 41, was additionally barred from driving for 17 years on Tuesday by Choose Mark Lucraft, who stated CCTV footage confirmed “a fairly appalling litany of incidents” resulting in a “merely surprising” deadly collision with scholar Yubin Tamang, who suffered catastrophic accidents and died two days later.
Clarke-Samuel pleaded responsible in London’s Central Prison Court docket in December to inflicting dying by harmful driving.
The choose famous that the rapper had expressed regret, in a letter to the court docket.
“As you set out, you have got executed a lot to assist others over the past 10 years and all that good work is marred by driving in drink and taking the lifetime of one other younger man,” the choose stated.
Prosecutors stated Clarke-Samuel had been consuming alcohol at a bar in central London, and drove his BMW erratically at round 70 mph (112 kilometers per hour) earlier than the crash, working six purple lights and driving on the unsuitable facet of the highway. The sufferer was struck as he crossed the road, sustaining catastrophic accidents.
“Mr. Tamang was nonetheless crossing the highway. He might do nothing to keep away from a collision. Mr. Tamang was catapulted into the air earlier than crashing down on the roadway,” prosecutor Philip McGhee stated. He added that Clarke-Samuel didn’t cease or name emergency providers, however quite drove eight miles house.
In a press release, Tamang’s dad and mom, Sharmila and Bikash Tamang, stated their hearts had been “damaged past restore.”
“Our solely baby, a treasured soul, has been taken from us far too quickly,” they stated. “He got here to the U.Ok. to check and create a greater life for himself and his household. Justin Clarke-Samuel has stolen our son’s future and ours with it.”
Clarke-Samuel’s lawyer, Ben Aina, learn excerpts from a letter of apology to Tamang’s household.
“I write from a spot of utmost remorse, disgrace and regret,” the rapper wrote. “I’m absolutely conscious that there are not any variety of apologies that I can say which can soothe the ache that the household and mates of Mr Tamang should really feel.”
Ghetts gained greatest male act in 2021 at Britain’s MOBO awards, and has collaborated with artists like Ed Sheeran and Stormzy.
