British grime rapper Ghetts, whose real name is Justin Clarke-Samuel, has pleaded guilty to causing the death of 20-year-old Nepali student Yubin Tamang in a high-speed hit-and-run crash in Ilford, north-east London. The incident, which occurred shortly after 11:30pm on October 18, 2025, has sent shockwaves through the UK music community and has left Tamang’s family devastated. The gravity of the case has reignited conversations about dangerous driving and celebrity accountability on British roads.
On that fateful October night, Clarke-Samuel was behind the wheel of his black BMW M5, speeding at more than 60mph in a 30mph zone along Redbridge Lane. According to police reports cited by Sky News and BBC, Tamang was crossing the road when he was struck with such force that he was thrown between 60 and 70 feet into the air. Witnesses described the aftermath as chaotic, with the contents of Tamang’s bag strewn across the road and black car parts scattered nearby. One passerby found Tamang lying near the pavement, bleeding from his head and unable to respond. Despite the severity of the collision, Clarke-Samuel failed to stop, continuing east along Redbridge Lane.
Tamang, an only child sent by his parents to the UK to pursue his studies at the University of Roehampton, was taken to hospital but succumbed to his injuries two days later. His family, who traveled from Nepal for the court proceedings, described him as “a very good person” and their “world,” according to Daily Mail. The loss has been felt deeply, both within their family and among friends in the UK and Nepal.
Clarke-Samuel was arrested at his home in Woodford in the early hours following the crash. Police found his BMW parked nearby, displaying significant damage: a smashed windscreen, extensive marks on the bonnet, a damaged front bumper, and a missing wing mirror cover. Officers who arrested him at 4:40am noted the smell of alcohol on his breath. Prosecutors allege that he had consumed Hennessy cognac and Coke at around 9:30pm that evening, and later breathalyzer tests indicated a level of 119 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath—well over the legal limit.
During the December 8, 2025, hearing at the Old Bailey, Clarke-Samuel appeared via videolink from Pentonville prison, wearing a green polo shirt. He pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving, as well as to dangerous driving earlier that evening on Tavistock Place and other roads in Camden, Islington, and Hackney. He did not enter pleas to two further charges: causing death by careless driving while over the alcohol limit, and dangerous driving on Worcester Crescent and other roads in Redbridge. Sentencing is set for February 12, 2026, and Judge Mark Lucraft KC has made it clear that a custodial sentence is inevitable, though the exact length remains to be determined. Clarke-Samuel has also been disqualified from driving with immediate effect, pending a final decision on the length of the ban.
Detective Inspector Mark Braithwaite, of the Metropolitan Police’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit, emphasized the tragic consequences of reckless driving. “Split-second decisions behind the wheel can have devastating, life-changing consequences,” he stated, as reported by BBC. He further expressed hope that the guilty pleas would bring “some measure of comfort” to Tamang’s grieving family. “While nothing can undo their loss, today’s two guilty pleas mark a step toward justice,” Braithwaite said.
Prosecutor Varinder Hayre provided a detailed account of the incident in court, noting that CCTV footage showed Tamang looking both ways before crossing Redbridge Lane. The impact from the BMW was so severe that Tamang was thrown high into the air, and the car did not stop. Hayre also described the police search of Clarke-Samuel’s home, where officers found a fixed penalty notice, a logbook, and the car key to the BMW in question. Clarke-Samuel reportedly questioned officers about which car he was supposed to have been driving and became agitated during the search.
The case has highlighted the dangers posed by high-speed driving and the responsibilities of those in the public eye. Clarke-Samuel’s musical achievements are significant: he is a two-time Mercury Prize nominee, a MOBO Best Male Artist winner in 2021, and received the MOBO Pioneer Award in 2024 for his contributions to British black culture. He has collaborated with major artists such as Skepta, Stormzy, and Ed Sheeran, performed at Glastonbury multiple times, and starred in the Netflix superhero series Supacell. Earlier this year, he was nominated for two Ivor Novello awards, further cementing his status as a leading figure in the UK music scene.
Yet, as this case makes clear, fame offers no immunity from the consequences of one’s actions. The court proceedings have drawn attention not only for the tragic loss of a young life but also for the sobering reminder that reckless driving can upend lives in an instant. The fact that Clarke-Samuel continued to drive dangerously through several London boroughs before the fatal crash only adds to the gravity of the situation.
For Tamang’s family, the legal process is just one part of their ongoing ordeal. The young man’s aspirations and the sacrifices his family made to send him to the UK have been cruelly cut short. Friends and relatives have described him as a dedicated student and a passionate fan of hip hop music, whose future held great promise.
As the sentencing date approaches, the music world and the wider public await the outcome, reflecting on the intersection of celebrity, responsibility, and justice. The case serves as a stark warning: no matter one’s achievements or public profile, the law holds everyone to account, and the consequences of dangerous driving can be irrevocable.
The final chapter of this case will be written in February, when Judge Lucraft delivers the sentence. Until then, the memory of Yubin Tamang remains a poignant reminder of the fragility of life and the far-reaching impact of a single, reckless decision.
