Cambridge professor Jason Arday found dead after resigning over plagiarism claims

Jason Arday, a University of Cambridge professor who resigned last week following allegations of plagiarism and discrepancies in his career history, has been found dead at his home in south London.

The Metropolitan police said officers were called by the London ambulance service after 3pm on Friday. A 41-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene; his next of kin have been informed. Police said the death is being treated as unexpected but not suspicious, and a file will be prepared for the coroner. It is believed the body is Arday's, and that no one else was involved.

Arday's family issued a statement condemning what they described as a sustained campaign of abuse since he took up his Cambridge professorship. They said the misinformation was too much for a gentle man who always saw the best in everyone, and asked the press to leave them alone.

Arday was appointed professor of sociology of education at Cambridge in 2023, becoming the university's youngest-ever black professor. He resigned last week after accusations about his PhD thesis and other claims about his life, including raising money for charity and long-distance running. He denied plagiarism allegations, and an earlier investigation by Liverpool John Moores University upheld his PhD award. However, further questions arose about his academic qualifications and honorary appointments, leading Cambridge to announce an internal inquiry on 5 August. Jesus College also said it would investigate. Glasgow University, where Arday previously held a professorship, said it would likewise examine his credentials.

In his resignation statement, Arday said the relentless accusations and speculation had taken a profound toll on him and his loved ones. Cambridge's vice-chancellor, Prof Deborah Prentice, expressed deep sadness and offered sympathies to his family and friends.

Arday's background was remarkable: he said he was nonverbal until age 11, received extensive speech therapy, and was illiterate until 18. He later became a torchbearer for the 2012 London Olympics flame, studied and taught at a further education college, earned a doctorate from Liverpool John Moores University in 2015, and rose to professorships at Glasgow and Cambridge.

The controversy has caused anger within Cambridge's academic community. Prentice had earlier resisted calls for an independent inquiry but backed down, acknowledging the "anger and anxiety" around the case while insisting it should not cast aspersions on staff of colour.

Arday's autobiography was published this week in the US by an imprint of Simon & Schuster, with a UK publication planned later this month.