British Rapper Ghetts Jailed Over Fatal Hit-and-Run

British rapper Ghetts has received a 12-year prison sentence in connection with a fatal hit-and-run that killed a 20-year-old university student in northeast London. The 41-year-old musician, born Justin Clarke Samuel, admitted causing death by dangerous driving at the Old Bailey.

The case attracted widespread attention after prosecutors detailed the crash, which occurred on October 18, 2025, along Redbridge Lane East in Ilford. The victim, Yubin Tamang, a university student from Nepal, suffered critical injuries after a high-performance BMW M5, driven by the rapper, struck him.

Tamang was rushed to the hospital but died two days later. His family described the loss as devastating, and the incident renewed concerns about reckless driving in London.

Prosecutor Philip McGhee told the court that Ghetts had consumed alcohol before driving. Tests later confirmed he was around one and a half times above the legal limit at the time. Investigators reported that the vehicle traveled over 60 miles per hour in a 30-mph zone. CCTV footage showed a series of dangerous maneuvers before the collision.

The driver ran six red lights, swerved into oncoming traffic, mounted a kerb, and struck other vehicles before hitting Tamang. After the impact, he left the scene, leaving the student injured.

Judge Mark Lucraft KC called the footage deeply disturbing. He described the sequence of events as a shocking series of reckless actions that endangered multiple road users. Ghetts claimed he believed another vehicle was following him, prompting the dangerous driving. Police, however, found no evidence of a chase.

Officers traced crash debris to the rapper’s BMW M5. They later recovered the damaged vehicle near his Woodford Green residence, noting significant front-end damage consistent with the collision. The court sentenced Ghetts to 12 years in prison for the fatal offense. In addition, the judge imposed a 17-year driving ban, reflecting the severity of the reckless driving and the resulting loss of life.

Tamang’s family delivered a heartfelt victim impact statement during the hearing. They described how the tragedy permanently altered their lives and expressed that their “hearts are broken beyond repair.” The family added that the rapper’s actions had taken away their son’s dreams and the future they had imagined together.

The case sparked broader discussions about the dangers of reckless driving and the responsibilities of operating high-powered vehicles on public roads. Many observers view Ghetts’ 12-year sentence as the court’s acknowledgment of the severity of his offense and the tragic consequences of his actions.