Cadet death: Man pleads guilty to killing rapper by dangerous driving

Jordon Birch expects long prison sentence at sentencing next month, lawyer says

28-year-old Blaine Cameron Johnson died in February 2019 (Cadet/Twitter)

A man has admitted killing rapper Cadet through dangerous driving.

The grime rapper, real name Blaine Cameron Johnson, died in a crash in Staffordshire in February on his way to a concert at Keele University.

On Tuesday Jordon Birch pleaded guilty to causing his death by dangerous driving – and seriously injuring a second man, Kashif Usman – at Stoke on Trent Crown Court.

The defendant was driving a Vauxhall Combo van on the A531 Main Road in Wrinehill, near Betley, when he crashed with a Toyota Prius driven by Mr Usman in the early hours of 9 February.

There were three other passengers in the Prius with Johnson and all sustained injuries, according to prosecutor Paul Spratt.

“Those injuries will form part of the narrative of the case. The issue of alcohol is to the fore in the case and will form part of the narrative,” he added.

Peter Cooper, defending, told the court Birch had no memory of the crash.

He added: “He is appalled and he offers his full apology.

“Not that it changes anything, he offers a full apology to members of the bereaved family. He is not hoping to gain by it, he just wants to say it.

“He is under no illusions. He is going to serve a long prison sentence.”

Judge David Fletcher ordered a pre-sentence report be prepared by probation workers, and adjourned the case until 9 January.

Birch, 23, of Woore in Shropshire, was released on unconditional bail.

Cadet was a rising star, featuring heavily on BBC Radio 1Xtra and with his most recent track hitting number 27 in the charts.

The 28-year-old Londoner was due to perform at Wireless Festival in July this year.