British rapper and Supacell actor Ghetts, real name Justin Clarke-Samuel, has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for the fatal hit-and-run death of 20-year-old student Yubin Tamang in London. The 41-year-old previously pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and an additional count of dangerous driving prior to the collision. He has also been disqualified from driving for 17 years.
The sentence was handed down at the Old Bailey this week following an October crash that prosecutors described as reckless and avoidable. According to court testimony, Clarke-Samuel had consumed alcohol prior to getting behind the wheel, with toxicology reports showing his blood alcohol level was approximately 1.5 times over the legal limit. He admitted to drinking three glasses of brandy earlier in the evening.
CCTV footage and forensic evidence presented in court showed Clarke-Samuel driving at speeds exceeding 60 mph in a 30 mph residential zone in northeast London. Prosecutors said he failed to stop at multiple red traffic lights and executed dangerous maneuvers before striking Tamang, who was crossing the street. The impact caused catastrophic injuries, and Tamang died two days later in the hospital.
Clarke-Samuel did not stop at the scene and was arrested the following day. A damaged car mirror found near the crash site was traced back to his vehicle. Although he claimed someone had been following him — which he suggested contributed to his driving behavior — investigators found no evidence to support that account.
In a statement read in court, Tamang’s family described their grief as “hearts broken beyond repair,” calling their son “a precious soul” and stating they could never forgive the loss inflicted on their family.
Through his attorney, Clarke-Samuel expressed “extreme regret, shame and remorse,” adding, “This may be the only chance that I get to apologize. It was truly an unintentional act on my part and I am so sincerely sorry for the suffering and emotional distress that I have caused.”
Beyond music, Clarke-Samuel had recently expanded into acting, portraying the antagonist Craig, also known as Krazy, in Netflix’s Supacell, created by Andrew Onwubolu (widely known as Rapman). The gritty superhero drama centers on a group of Black Londoners who unexpectedly develop superpowers and became a major streaming hit following its 2024 debut. The series also stars Tosin Cole, Nadine Mills, Eric Kofi-Abrefa, Calvin Demba, Josh Tedeku and Adelayo Adedayo.
Season 2 of Supacell had begun filming shortly before the crash. The fate of Clarke-Samuel’s character seemed to be killed but his fate was left ambiguous at the end of Season 1, and it remains unclear how the production will address his absence moving forward.
As a musician, Ghetts built a respected career in the U.K. grime scene, releasing multiple studio albums and collaborating with major artists including Stormzy, Skepta, Dave and Ed Sheeran. His sentencing marks a significant and sobering turn in a career that had recently bridged music and television.
For Tamang’s family, however, the focus remains on the irreversible loss of a son whose future was cut short — a tragedy the court ultimately deemed the result of a fatal decision to drive under the influence and at dangerous speeds.