Jason Arday ‘found dead after being found unresponsive at home’ following Cambridge plagiarism scandal

FORMER Cambridge professor Jason Arday has been found dead at an address in south London, The Telegraph reports. Mr Arday, 41, was found “unresponsive” at a property in Battersea on Friday afternoon. Jason Arday was the the the University of Cambridge’s youngest ever black professor Credit: St Marys University He was found ‘unresponsive’ at an address in south London Credit: Not known, clear with picture desk Shortly after he was later pronounced dead at the scene. The Metropolitan Police said officers were called by the London Ambulance Service at 3.12pm. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! The spokesperson for the force said: “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.” Mr Arday resigned as professor of sociology of education at the University of Cambridge on August 5, following accusations of plagiarism. Most read in The Sun He was the university’s youngest ever black professor. Last week, Cambridge launched an investigation into Mr Arday’s appointment and tenure at the university. Arday was at the centre of a high-profile dispute having been accused of plagiarising from other students for his PhD thesis. Arday, who became the university’s youngest black professor in 2023, also came under fire after critics accused him of stealing research. An initial investigation into the professor’s “appointment and tenure” was launched last week. Mr Arday resigned just a few hours after the university announced the investigation, citing the “unrelenting level of public scrutiny”. Last week, he admitted to a series of errors in his work and quit his role as professor, but denied the claims against him. Arday went on to insist he is not a “liar and fantasist” after a remarkable list of personal achievements were also called into question. These include running 600 miles in six days and raising millions of pounds for charity. He also claimed to have appeared in the TV series Seven Up, despite it broadcasting two decades before he was born. He told The Times: “I am accountable for the mistakes I’ve made. I hold myself accountable and other people should hold me accountable. “We’re talking about academia here. I didn’t murder somebody. “I think the cruelty that I’ve experienced and the positioning of me as this kind of liar and fantasist is totally unacceptable.” Analysis of Arday’s PhD thesis reportedly showed 180 passages were a match or near-match for another students. Since the allegations were made, Arday has said this was a result of his autism, meaning means he absorbs information through mimicry. He admitted that his outstanding feat of running 600 miles in six days was also wrong and it had taken 12 days. Arday also said the £5.5million he has raised for charity was not done alone but instead as part of a syndicate of around 100 others. Jesus College said previously that it was launching its own process in relation to the allegation. An investigation at Liverpool John Moores University cleared Prof Arday of wrongdoing. Prof Arday said in his open resignation letter that the “only way to bring this chapter to an end is to step away”. But the under-fire professor was also accused of using AI to write his resignation letter. For help and support, call the Samaritans for free from a UK phone, completely anonymously, on 116 123 or go to samaritans.org. More to follow… For the latest news on this story keep checking back at The Sun Online Thesun.co.uk is your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video. Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/thesun and follow us on TikTok @TheSun.