Former Cambridge professor found dead in London home

Former University of Cambridge professor Jason Arday, who resigned following a plagiarism row, has been found dead at his home in London.

Emergency services were called to Daley Thompson Way, in Battersea, where the academic lived, just after 3pm to reports that a man had been found unresponsive inside a property.

The man was pronounced dead at the scene, the UK Metropolitan Police said.

His death is being treated as unexpected, but is not believed to be suspicious, the force added.

University of Cambridge vice-chancellor Professor Deborah Prentice said: "We are desperately saddened to hear this tragic news.

"Our heartfelt sympathies go to Jason Arday's family and friends at this incredibly difficult time."

A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said: "Police were called by the London Ambulance Service at 3.12pm on Friday, 14 August following a report that a man had been found unresponsive inside a property on Daley Thompson Way, SW8.

"Sadly, a 41-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene.

"His next-of-kin have been informed and are being supported by officers.

"At this time his death is being treated as unexpected, but is not believed to be suspicious. The case is being investigated by officers from the Met’s Central South Command Unit. A file will be prepared for the coroner."

A London Ambulance Service spokesperson said: "We were called at 3.06pm on Friday 14 August to reports of an incident on Daley Thompson Way, SW8.

"We sent a number of resources to the scene, including an ambulance crew, an advanced paramedic in a fast response car and members of our Hazardous Area Response Team.

"Sadly, a person was pronounced dead at the scene."

Prof Arday, a professor of sociology of education who became Cambridge’s youngest black professor in 2023, quit following a series of media reports alleging he plagiarised his PhD thesis - completed at Liverpool John Moores University - and other research.

Further questions were asked in the press about the truth of other claims he made, including saying he ran 600 miles in six days and that he had raised £5.5 million for charity.

An investigation at Liverpool John Moores University cleared Mr Arday of wrongdoing.

Durham and Glasgow universities are investigating the circumstances around Mr Arday’s appointment to academic posts there and Cambridge’s Jesus College has accepted his resignation from his fellowship, according to Prof Prentice.

Mr Arday said in his open resignation letter that the "only way to bring this chapter to an end is to step away".

He said: "This decision should not be interpreted as a loss of faith in scholarship or in the values that first brought me to Cambridge.

"Nor should it be mistaken for an acceptance of the narratives that have surrounded me.

"It is simply the decision of someone who has reached the limits of what any person should reasonably be expected to endure."

Over the weekend, he cancelled events promoting his forthcoming memoir.

Publisher Simon & Schuster previously said that the book, 'Great And Unfortunate Things', would be published in the UK on 27 August.

This week the University of Cambridge said it would run an independent review of "all relevant processes" alongside an investigation into how Mr Arday was appointed by its Faculty of Education.