Putney Pusher Case: Family Blame Met Police Pressure 2026

The Putney Pusher case has taken a tragic turn as the family of Nicholas Brandram deny he was the notorious jogger and claim that immense pressure from a Metropolitan police investigation led to his death. Brandram, a 44-year-old senior city banker, was found unresponsive at his home in Chiswick, west London, on Tuesday evening.

He had been arrested in June in connection with a nearly decade-old incident on Putney Bridge, where a jogger shoved a woman into the path of an oncoming bus. The Metropolitan police confirmed Brandram was released under investigation after his arrest.

Family Denies Involvement in Putney Pusher Incident

In a statement released on Thursday, Brandram's family vehemently denied his involvement in the 2017 incident. They stated that he "took his own life after months of immense pressure caused by a Metropolitan police investigation into whether he was the so-called 'Putney Pusher'."

The family emphasized that there was no forensic evidence linking Brandram to the crime, no evidence placing him on Putney Bridge at the time, and no credible evidence that he was the man in the footage. They asserted that the evidence actually proved the opposite.

Despite this, the police chose to arrest Brandram rather than invite him for an interview. They searched his home, and the Met police press team released information that inevitably led to speculation.

Investigation Under Scrutiny

The case has raised questions about the Metropolitan Police's handling of the investigation and the pressure placed on individuals under scrutiny. The family's statement suggests that the police's actions, including the public release of information, contributed to Brandram's mental distress.

The incident in question occurred in May 2017 when a woman was pushed into the path of a bus on Putney Bridge. The jogger, captured on CCTV, became known as the "Putney Pusher." The case garnered widespread media attention but remained unsolved for years.

Key Takeaways from the Putney Pusher Case

• Nicholas Brandram was arrested in June in connection with the 2017 Putney Bridge incident.
• His family denies any involvement and claims lack of evidence.
• The Metropolitan Police faced criticism for their investigative approach.
• Brandram's death highlights the severe impact of intense police investigations on individuals.
• The case remains under investigation by the Met's Directorate of Professional Standards.

Comparing Evidence: What We Know

FAQ

The Metropolitan Police have referred the case to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which is standard procedure following a death after police contact. The investigation into the Putney Pusher incident itself remains open.