Fraudulent researcher Diederik Stapel has accepted 120 hours community service and the loss of 18 months salary in an out-of-court settlement.

Stapel was suspended as professor of social and behavioural sciences at Tilburg university in September 2011, after doubts emerged about research that concluded eating meat makes people anti-social and selfish.

The subsequent investigation into his work found at least 55 out of 130 academic papers he wrote contained fraudulent data. There were doubts about the authenticity of a further 11 papers.

Suitable

The public prosecution office, which announced the settlement, said the punishment is suitable because Stapel did not misuse the subsidies he received. These were used for research and not spent on expensive personal items.

The settlement means Stapel does not have to face trial.