Family of suspected ‘Putney pusher’ hit out at Met Police ‘pressure’
The family of the multi-millionaire banker accused of being the ‘Putney pusher’ have hit out at the Metropolitan Police over his death, insisting on his innocence.
Nicholas Brandram, who worked as a director at a private bank and was a former British Army officer, serving in several major conflicts, was discovered dead in his West London property on Tuesday at the age of 44. His death is being treated as “unexpected, but is not believed to be suspicious”.
According to the BBC, his family said he “took his own life after months of immense pressure caused by a Metropolitan Police investigation” and there was no forensic evidence linking the banker to the incident.
In June, Brandram was held on suspicion of grievous bodily harm nine years after a woman was shoved into traffic by a jogger on Putney Bridge. Last week, the Met said he had been released under investigation.
The crime, which took place on 5 May 2017, involved a jogger pushing a 33-year-old female pedestrian on the bridge in southwest London as a double-decker bus approached and swerved in time, leaving the woman with minor injuries.
From CCTV footage, the Met Police described the man in the incident as in his early to mid-30s, with short brown hair and a stocky build. He was also said to have been wearing dark blue shorts, trainers and a grey T-shirt.
The hunt for the Putney Pusher
Police interviewed over 50 men and arrested three suspects, but the case was closed in 2018, and no one was ever charged.
In his family statement, they said the police “chose to arrest Nick [Brandram] 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.
“For Nick, the consequences did not disappear. 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 Brandram’s mental health, saying: “Even then, the investigation was not brought to an end. As a result, Nick is dead,” they added.
In a media statement, chief superintendent Dan Knowles, in charge of policing for south west London, said: “Our thoughts are with Mr Brandram’s family and friends at this deeply distressing time. We recognise the significant impact his death will have on those who knew and loved him. We also understand the strain that being subject to a police investigation can place on individuals and their families.
“The investigation remains ongoing. Following Mr Brandram’s release under investigation, it was made clear that enquiries would continue while officers progressed outstanding lines of enquiry and forensic examinations. This remains the position, and further investigative work is ongoing.
“Investigations of this nature, particularly those involving complex evidential and forensic work, can take a number of months to complete as officers gather and assess all available evidence.
“As is required whenever a person dies following previous contact with police, a mandatory referral was made to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) on 16 September,” he added.