Ghetts has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for causing the death of a student in a hit-and-run crash in northeast London.
The grime star, whose real name is Justin Clarke-Samuel, failed to stop after his BMW struck Nepalese national Yubin Tamang, 20, last October. The 41-year-old admitted causing death by dangerous driving.
At his sentencing at London’s Old Bailey court on Tuesday, Judge Mark Lucraft imposed a 12-year jail term and banned Clarke-Samuel from driving for 17 years.
The ruling followed findings that the rapper was driving at excessive speed and was over the legal drink-drive limit at the time of the collision, a case now widely referred to as the Ghetts 12-year jail term.
The judge told Clarke-Samuel that CCTV footage showed a “quite appalling litany of incidents” before the fatal crash, which he described as “simply shocking.”
He added that the defendant ran six red traffic lights, repeatedly veered onto the wrong side of the road and was travelling at more than twice the speed limit in a 30mph zone.
Despite noting Clarke-Samuel’s “genuine remorse” and letters of support, including from his partner, the court said the seriousness of the offence warranted a lengthy sentence. The judge also acknowledged that the rapper had used his music career to positively influence his community.
The court heard that Clarke-Samuel was around one-and-a-half times over the legal drink-drive limit before his car hit Tamang as he crossed the road.
ALSO READ:X to suspend creators who post undisclosed AI war videos
He did not contact emergency services after the crash, and the victim died in hospital two days later. Prosecutors said his actions leading up to the incident justified the Ghetts 12-year jail term handed down by the court.
Clarke-Samuel has 12 previous convictions for 27 offences dating back to his teenage years, including robbery, aggravated vehicle taking and driving-related crimes.
Ghetts, who has collaborated with Ed Sheeran and won the Best Male Act award at the Music of Black Origin (MOBO) Awards in 2021, listened as Sharmila Tamang, the victim’s mother, addressed the court.
“My son had come for his studies to the UK, saying the UK had the best degree in the world,” she said.
“But on his way back from his work, this happened, and he lost his life.”
The case has drawn attention to the dangers of speeding and drink-driving, with campaigners urging tougher enforcement and greater accountability on the roads following the Ghetts 12-year jail term.