Rapper Ghetts pleads guilty to causing death of student through dangerous driving
Rapper Ghetts has pleaded causing the death of 20-year-old student Yubin Tamang through dangerous driving, with a judge warning he now faces an inevitable prison sentence.
Rapper Ghetts has pleaded guilty to causing the death of 20-year-old student Yubin Tamang through dangerous driving.
The 41-year-old musician - whose real name is Justin Clarke-Samuel - appeared at the Old Bailey on Monday (08.12.25) via videolink from Pentonville prison for a short hearing.
Ghetts admitted causing death by dangerous driving, as well as two further counts of dangerous driving before and after the fatal incident on October 18 in Ilford, London.
Prosecutor Varinder Hayre told the court: “The victim was seen on CCTV walking along Redbridge Lane East in the area.
“He looked both ways and started to cross the road, as he walked into the middle of the road. The black BMW registered with the defendant was travelling eastbound and collided with the victim.
“The impact was so significant that it threw the victim up into the air at around 60 or 70 feet and the contents of his bag had been thrown out.
“The victim landed on the floor and the BMW did not stop and kept travelling east along Redbridge Lane.”
Tamang, originally from Nepal, died in hospital two days later.
The court heard he was an only child whose parents had sent him to the UK to pursue his education.
Ghetts, a two-time Mercury Prize nominee and MOBO winner, has been in custody since a preliminary hearing at Barkingside Magistrates’ Court on October 27.
He also faces allegations of causing death by careless driving while over the alcohol limit and an additional dangerous driving charge, though he has not yet entered pleas to those counts.
The court was told he accepted drinking Hennessy and Coke at around 9:30pm on the night of the crash.
Judge Mark Lucraft KC, the Recorder of London, told the rapper he is facing an inevitable prison sentence.
He said the case would proceed to sentencing on February 12, and remanded Clarke-Samuel in custody.
Police officers attended the defendant’s home the day after the collision, where the BMW - registered and insured in his name - was found with what the prosecution described as “significant” damage.
Ghetts, who played Glastonbury last year and has collaborated with Ed Sheeran, Stormzy and Skepta, is widely regarded as one of the defining figures of UK rap.
He won Best Male Act at the MOBO Awards in 2021 and received the MOBO Pioneer Award in 2023 for his contribution to Black British music.
He recently appeared in the Netflix drama Supacell, playing a supporting role in the acclaimed sci-fi series.
Ghetts will remain in custody until his sentencing hearing.
