Jason Arday, ex-Cambridge professor at centre of plagiarism row, found dead

Jason Arday, a former University of Cambridge professor, has been found dead in Battersea, South London. The 41-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene on Friday afternoon after being found unresponsive. His death is being treated as unexpected but not suspicious by the Metropolitan Police.

Arday resigned from his position as professor of sociology of education at Cambridge University on August 5 following allegations of plagiarism and questions about his personal achievements. He denied the plagiarism allegations but admitted to errors in some of his work.

In a statement announcing his resignation, Arday expressed that the controversy subjected him to "an unrelenting level of public scrutiny and personal attack." He stated that the relentless accusations and public commentary had taken a profound toll on him and those he loves.

Arday's appointment to the Cambridge professorship in March 2023, making him the university's youngest-ever black professor, was later questioned due to reports about his academic qualifications, past achievements, and allegations of plagiarism in his PhD thesis from Liverpool John Moores University. Both Cambridge University and Jesus College, where he was a fellow, launched investigations into his academic credentials.

The biography of Arday, titled *Great And Unfortunate Things*, was set to be published on August 27. However, calls have arisen for its release to be postponed due to the controversy surrounding its author. The circumstances surrounding Arday's death have not been disclosed, but police stated there were no suspicious circumstances at this stage.