British rapper Ghetts admits causing death of student by dangerous driving

2025-12-08 16:38

The rapper Ghetts has pleaded guilty to causing the death of a student in a hit-and-run while driving dangerously.

The award-winning artist, whose real name is Justin Clarke-Samuel, appeared at the Old Bailey in London by video link from Pentonville prison and admitted causing the death of 20-year-old Yubin Tamang on 18 October.

Clarke-Samuel, 41, also pleaded guilty to an additional charge of driving his BMW M5 dangerously in London before the fatal incident.

Judge Lucraft KC told Clarke-Samuel “the only sentence to be passed is a custodial sentence” but the length of his jail term had yet to be determined. He is due to be sentenced on 12 February.

Clarke-Samuel, who is in custody, was disqualified from driving with immediate effect but the length of the ban has yet to be fixed.

Tamang was an only child and his parents had sent him to the UK to receive an education.

Ghetts was nominated for the 2024 Mercury prize for his fourth studio album, On Purpose, with Purpose, and won best male act at Britain’s Mobo awards in 2021. The rapper has collaborated with high-profile artists including Ed Sheeran.

PA Media contributed to this report