An employment tribunal has found that Professor Neil Wyn Evans, an astrophysics academic at the University of Cambridge, was victimised after exposing alleged bullying and misogyny within the institution’s Institute of Astronomy. The tribunal upheld 11 of Evans’s 14 complaints, highlighting a hostile work environment marked by factionalism and alleged misconduct by senior staff.
The case has drawn attention following the recent death of Jason Arday, the youngest black professor at Cambridge, who resigned amid accusations of plagiarism. Both cases have raised concerns about the university’s internal culture and handling of grievances.
Evans’s battle began with complaints about the “vile” treatment of female colleagues by senior personnel. Among the allegations was that Professor Richard McMahon, the head of department, had used the university’s wireless network during lockdown to track the movements of colleagues, including Dr Gudrun Tausch-Pebody, by accessing their phone IP addresses. Cambridge initially dismissed these complaints against McMahon.
Following these dismissals, Evans made a series of protected disclosures concerning alleged academic malpractice, delays in grant funding, and the broader impact on affected staff. In response, McMahon filed his own complaints accusing Evans and others of bullying and making false allegations. The tribunal found no evidence to support McMahon’s claims, yet the university accepted them, initiating a two-year investigation into Evans.
Evans later filed a defamation lawsuit against McMahon in July 2022, only to discover that Cambridge’s legal insurance was being used to fund McMahon’s defence. Although McMahon attempted to withdraw his allegations in 2023, he encountered resistance from the university’s human resources department and felt pressured to continue the legal battle. He eventually admitted the allegations against Evans were untrue but did not face disciplinary action.
During the tribunal, McMahon’s mental health was a noted factor, with Judge Graham describing cross-examination as difficult due to McMahon’s post-traumatic stress disorder. The tribunal also highlighted the university’s aggressive legal approach, with Evans describing its barrister’s conduct as “character assassination,” particularly an incident where Evans was accused of insincere emotions related to a colleague’s suicide—a remark Evans found especially distressing given his own family history.
The case took a further disturbing turn when an image depicting Judas’s betrayal—symbolizing treachery—was affixed to Evans’s office door during the hearing. The university swiftly removed the poster and reminded staff of expected professional standards.
The tribunal criticism extended to the university’s senior leadership, including Vice-Chancellor Professor Deborah Prentice. Despite Evans submitting multiple complaints between 2023 and 2024 regarding the handling of the case, Prentice was found to have repeatedly dismissed or failed to investigate the concerns adequately. The judgment characterized her actions as part of a broader attempt to suppress complaints and protect the university’s reputation. Prentice acknowledged the controversy began before her tenure and denied failing in her duties, but the tribunal rejected her assertions.
Evans expressed hope that Prentice might use the opportunity to become a reforming figure within the university. Meanwhile, the costs incurred by Cambridge during the four-week tribunal, led by a senior barrister who can charge up to £2,000 per hour, remain undisclosed.
The case has brought into sharp focus long-standing issues within Cambridge’s academic environment, calling into question the institution’s mechanisms for addressing allegations of misconduct and supporting whistleblowers.