Jason Arday, the former University of Cambridge professor who resigned following allegations of plagiarism, has been found dead. The 41-year-old was found unresponsive at an address in Battersea, London, on Friday, August 14.
Career and resignation
Mr Arday became the youngest black professor at Cambridge University in 2023. He resigned his position as professor of sociology of education at the institution last week. His resignation followed a series of reports alleging he had plagiarised his PhD thesis, which he completed at Liverpool John Moores University. Further scrutiny was also directed at other claims he had made, including running 600 miles in six days and raising millions for charity.
Police and ambulance response
Metropolitan Police officers attended Daley Thompson Way in Battersea, where the academic lived, today. A statement said: “Police were called by the London Ambulance Service at 15:12hrs 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.”
