Family Blames Metropolitan Police After Death of Banker Questioned Over 'Putney Pusher' Attack

The family of Nicholas Brandram has publicly condemned the Metropolitan Police following his death, asserting that the 44-year-old banker took his own life as a direct consequence of an agonizing and unfounded investigation into the infamous 2017 "Putney pusher" case. Relatives have strongly maintained his complete innocence, insisting there was no factual or forensic basis linking him to the high-profile assault.

Mr Brandram was discovered dead at his residence on Tuesday evening. According to statements released by the Metropolitan Police, his sudden passing is currently being treated as unexpected, though investigators have indicated that the circumstances are not believed to be suspicious.

In an emotional and hard-hitting public statement, Mr Brandram's relatives revealed that he had succumbed to immense mental pressure stemming from months under active police suspicion. They argued that the Metropolitan Police subjected him to an unjustified ordeal despite having no forensic evidence connecting him to the scene or the crime.

The family further emphasized that investigators possessed no credible material proving Mr Brandram was present on Putney Bridge at the time the assault occurred. They also asserted that footage captured during the incident did not match him in any way, stating firmly that the available evidence proved the exact opposite of the police theory.

The long-running investigation dates back to the morning of 5 May 2017 on Putney Bridge in west London, where a passing jogger shoved a woman into the roadway directly into the path of an oncoming double-decker bus. The victim narrowly escaped fatal injuries thanks to the immediate evasive maneuvers of the bus driver.

Mr Brandram was formally arrested in June of this year on suspicion of attempted grievous bodily harm in connection with the bridge assault. During his detention in police custody, officers also arrested him on suspicion of possessing class A and class B illicit substances.

Just last week, the Metropolitan Police confirmed that Mr Brandram had been released under investigation while detectives continued their inquiries. Days after that operational update was confirmed, he was found dead inside his home.

His family expressed profound outrage at the tactical choices made by law enforcement from the beginning of their renewed inquiries. They criticized officers for executing a formal arrest and carrying out a search of his home, arguing that police should have instead invited him to attend a voluntary interview to address their questions.

The family also pointed to the dissemination of details by the force's press department, which they stated triggered immediate media speculation and led directly to Mr Brandram being identified in subsequent press coverage. This public exposure left him carrying the severe social stigma of a notorious and violent crime.

Relatives detailed how Mr Brandram was forced to endure months of overwhelming anxiety, humiliation, and distress resulting from what they described as a wholly unnecessary investigation. They maintained that the police themselves clearly should have recognized the utter lack of evidential support for the allegations.

According to his relatives, legal representatives and family members made repeated representations to the Metropolitan Police urging them to formally conclude the inquiry. These appeals included explicit warnings concerning the severe deterioration of Mr Brandram's mental health under the strain of the ongoing probe.

The family lamented that despite these urgent warnings, the police refused to bring the proceedings to a close. In their statement, they placed direct responsibility on the force, stating that as a consequence of the unrelenting pressure, Mr Brandram is now dead. The Metropolitan Police has been contacted for comment regarding the family's accusations.

The original incident on Putney Bridge had drawn widespread public horror after CCTV captured the jogger knocking the female pedestrian into the road. Investigating officer Sgt Mat Knowles noted shortly after the event that the victim avoided being struck exclusively because of the superb and rapid reactions of the bus driver.

The driver of the vehicle, Oliver Salbris, later recounted the terrifying near-miss, explaining that he acted purely on reflex to swerve away from the falling woman. He stated at the time that had he not taken instantaneous evasive action, the vehicle would have impacted her head, leading to terrible consequences for both the pedestrian and himself.

Adding to the shock of the incident, reports established that approximately 15 minutes after knocking the woman over, the jogger ran back across the bridge in the opposite direction and completely ignored the victim when she attempted to confront him about the push.

In the aftermath of the 2017 incident, detectives pursued extensive inquiries and identified more than 50 persons of interest across the capital. Although three men were previously arrested in connection with the assault, all three were eventually released without charge, leading the Metropolitan Police to formally close the investigation in 2018 before it was revisited years later.