Family of Putney Pusher suspect blame 'intense pressure from police investigation' for his death

Nicholas Brandram's family has insisted he was not the so-called "Putney pusher".

They said the former Army officer "took his own life after months of immense pressure caused by a Metropolitan Police investigation".

Mr Brandram’s family said there was no forensic evidence linking the 44-year-old banker to the 2017 incident in which a jogger shoved a woman headfirst into the path of an oncoming bus on Putney Bridge in south-west London.

In a statement, they said: "There was no forensic evidence linking Nick to it, no evidence placing him on Putney Bridge at that time, and no credible evidence that he was the man shown in the footage.

They added: "In fact, the evidence proved the opposite.

“Despite that, the police chose to arrest Nick rather than invite him to attend for interview.

"They searched his home and the Met Police press team then released information which inevitably led to speculation and Nick being identified in subsequent reporting."

The family added: "For Nick, the consequences did not disappear."

They said: "He was left for months carrying the stigma of an appalling allegation which the police themselves clearly recognised was unsupported by the evidence.

"He lived with the shame, anxiety, humiliation and extraordinary pressure created by a wholly unnecessary investigation."

They said the police were repeatedly asked to end their investigation and warned about the impact the investigation was having on Mr Brandram’s mental health.

The family added: "Even then, the investigation was not brought to an end. As a result, Nick is dead."

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The banker was discovered deceased at his Chiswick property in West London on Tuesday night.

Emergency services were called to the scene.

He was found unresponsive and later pronounced dead.

While his death is being treated as unexpected, it is not being treated as suspicious.

A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police Service said: "At 19.12hrs on Tuesday, 15 September, officers and the London Ambulance Service attended an address in Chiswick, Hounslow after a man was found unresponsive inside a property.

"Sadly, a 44-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene. His next-of-kin have been informed. At this time his death is being treated as unexpected, but is not believed to be suspicious. A file will be prepared for the coroner in due course."

The investigation lasted almost a decade, during which police interviewed 50 men and arrested three people.

Following the incident, police shared the shocking CCTV footage in which the runner could be seen shoving a woman into the road.

A year after the incident, the investigation slowed because of a lack of information, and no one has been charged.

Police first arrested the suspect in June.

After being held on suspicion of attempted grievous bodily harm (GBH), he was arrested again on suspicion of possessing Class A and B drugs.

He was later bailed, but the bail was cancelled last week.

GB News have approached the Metropolitan Police for comment.

Anyone who is in emotional distress, struggling to cope or at risk of suicide can call the Samaritans anonymously for free from a UK phone on 116 123 or go to samaritans.org.

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