British rapper and actor Justin Clarke-Samuel, better known by his stage name Ghetts, has pleaded guilty in court to causing the death of 20-year-old Yubin Tamang following a hit-and-run incident in Ilford on October 18.

 

The tragic collision occurred just after 11:30 PM, when Tamang, a Nepali student, was crossing the road in a 30mph zone. Prosecutors revealed that Ghetts was driving at speeds exceeding 60mph when he struck Tamang. Ghetts failed to stop after the impact, and Tamang, who was an only child, tragically passed away two days later from his injuries.

 

During the court proceedings, it was noted that Tamang’s family, who had traveled from Nepal, attended the hearing in the public gallery. The case was reported by Sky News, which detailed the emotional toll the incident has had on his loved ones.

 

In addition to the fatal hit-and-run charge, Ghetts, 41, also pleaded guilty to multiple counts of dangerous driving across various parts of London prior to the fatal incident, including Tavistock Place in Bloomsbury, and areas of Camden, Islington, and Hackney.

 

Appearing in a video from Pentonville Prison, Ghetts entered his pleas at the Old Bailey on Monday, wearing a green polo shirt. He has been in custody since his first appearance at Barkingside Magistrates’ Court on October 27.

A two-time Mercury Prize nominee and MOBO winner, Ghetts has now been disqualified from driving, though the length of the ban has not yet been determined.

 

Judge Mark Lucraft KC confirmed that Ghetts would face a custodial sentence, though the length of his prison term will be decided at a sentencing hearing scheduled for February 12, 2026.

Speaking after the guilty pleas, Detective Inspector Mark Braithwaite from the Metropolitan Police’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit said the admissions were “a step toward justice” for Tamang’s family. He added: “Split-second decisions behind the wheel can have devastating, life-changing consequences.”

 

Following the collision, police discovered Ghetts’s damaged BMW near his home in Woodford. The vehicle had sustained significant damage, including a smashed windscreen and a missing wing mirror cover.

In addition to the charges related to the fatal crash, Ghetts faces further charges, including causing death by careless driving while over the alcohol limit. He has not yet entered a plea for that charge or for an additional count of dangerous driving.

 

 

Source: Tribune