Is the Putney Pusher Case Over? Nicholas Brandram's Death Leaves the 2017 Mystery Unresolved

Nine years after a jogger was filmed pushing a woman towards an oncoming London bus, the mystery of the so-called 'Putney Pusher' remains without a definitive answer after the only publicly identified suspect, Nicholas Brandram, recently died.

Brandram, 44, was arrested in June 2026 over the 2017 Putney Bridge incident and was found dead at his Chiswick home on Tuesday, 15 September. The Metropolitan Police said his death was unexpected but is not believed to be suspicious.

Crucially, Brandram was never charged over the attack and had been released under investigation before his death.

What Happened in the 2017 Putney Pusher Case?

The case began at around 7:40am on 5 May 2017, when a 33-year-old woman was walking across Putney Bridge in south-west London.

CCTV showed a male jogger appearing to shove her into the road and into the path of a Route 430 double-decker bus. Driver Oliver Salbris swerved to avoid her, while the woman escaped with minor injuries.

Sergeant Mat Knowles, who was involved in the original investigation, said at the time that the woman had been placed in 'extreme danger' and credited the bus driver's quick reaction with preventing her from being struck.

About 15 minutes later, police said the jogger returned across the bridge. The woman attempted to speak to him, but he continued running.

The Metropolitan Police released CCTV as part of its appeal, prompting widespread efforts to identify the man. Officers eventually examined more than 50 people of interest and made three arrests, but none resulted in charges.

Why Was Nicholas Brandram Arrested Nine Years Later?

The investigation had been closed in June 2018 after police said 'all reasonable lines of inquiry' had been completed and no suspect had been identified. The Met nevertheless said any new information would be explored.

That changed in June 2026.

Brandram, a former British Army officer who later worked in private banking, was arrested on 15 June on suspicion of attempted grievous bodily harm in connection with the Putney Bridge incident.

While in custody, he was additionally arrested on suspicion of possessing Class A and Class B drugs, according to the Metropolitan Police. He was subsequently released under investigation while enquiries continued.

No charge followed, meaning police had publicly identified an investigative suspect, but prosecutors and a court had never established that Brandram was the jogger seen in the footage.

Who Was Nicholas Brandram?

Brandram was a former army captain who served with the Scots Guards before pursuing a career in finance. Recent reporting identified him as a senior relationship manager at HSBC's private bank.

He also had distant links to the Royal Family. Brandram was the grandson of Princess Katherine of Greece and Denmark, later Lady Katherine Brandram, who was a great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria.

Is the Putney Pusher Case Now Closed?

Brandram's death does not provide a legal resolution to the Putney Pusher mystery.

Police and the London Ambulance Service attended his Chiswick home at 7:12pm on 15 September after he was found unresponsive. He was pronounced dead at the scene, with the Met saying a file would be prepared for the coroner.

Because Brandram died without being charged, there was no prosecution, trial or finding that he was responsible for the 2017 attack.

Furthermore, the original question that captivated Britain is still unanswered: who was the jogger behind the Putney Pusher attack?