The siblings of Nicholas Brandram, a man under investigation as a suspect in the so-called "Putney pusher" case, have accused the Metropolitan Police of "negligence" and "recklessness" in how the force managed the inquiry. Brandram, 44, was found dead at his home in Chiswick, west London, on 15 September 2026. His family maintains he took his own life following months of intense pressure stemming from the police investigation into a 2017 incident on Putney Bridge.
The incident in question occurred on 4 May 2017, when a jogger pushed a woman into the path of a bus on Putney Bridge in west London. CCTV footage from the incident went viral, showing the woman narrowly avoiding being struck by the vehicle. The case remained unsolved for nearly a decade until Brandram's arrest.
Brandram was arrested on 15 June 2026 on suspicion of attempted grievous bodily harm and was subsequently released under investigation. The Metropolitan Police attended an address in Chiswick after he was reported unresponsive, and the force said his death was being treated as unexpected but not suspicious.
What do his sisters say about the investigation?
Alexia Hicks and Sophie Volker told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that their brother's mental health deteriorated significantly during the investigation, with each day becoming increasingly difficult for him. They expressed frustration at what they characterised as the police's eagerness to secure an arrest and generate media coverage, while showing insufficient urgency in clearing his name.
He was reading everything that was online. Because he was still guilty online. And I think that the police's urgency to get him arrested and the urgency to get it in the press, I think he couldn't understand why there wasn't an urgency to help clear his name.
The sisters stated that their family claimed there was no forensic evidence linking him to the scene and no evidence placing him on Putney Bridge at the relevant time. They also accused the force of failing in its duty of care to their brother, the wider family, and society at large, noting that the actual perpetrator remains at large.
You know, the Met, they were negligent, they were reckless and they have, you know, failed our brother. They failed in their duty of care to our brother, to the wider family and arguably actually society because the Putney pusher is still out there.
Why did the family believe he was wrongly suspected?
The sisters told Today presenter Justin Webb that it was "ridiculous" their brother was ever placed under formal suspicion, as he did not match the profile of the attacker. They provided several pieces of evidence they say should have quickly ruled him out.
Brandram had sustained an injury during his military service that left him with a withered leg. The victim of the 2017 attack had reported that the assailant had brown eyes, whereas Brandram had distinctly blue eyes. Additionally, he bore a prominent military tattoo on his forearm, which would have been visible given that the jogger was wearing a T-shirt during the incident.
The sisters also noted that Brandram lived in Notting Hill and had no connection to Putney. They stated they possessed evidence demonstrating he was in his Bond Street office at the time of the attack. They characterised the allegation against him as having emerged "completely out of the blue" and suggested it must have been "either malicious or mistaken."
How has the Metropolitan Police responded?
The Met acknowledged the strain that being subject to a police investigation can cause and confirmed that a mandatory referral had been made to the police watchdog. The force stated that the investigation into the 2017 incident remained ongoing but declined to comment further on the sisters' allegations.
The referral to the police watchdog means that any further official action will depend on the outcome of that independent oversight process. The underlying inquiry into the Putney Bridge incident continues, according to the force.
Who was Nicholas Brandram?
The sisters paid tribute to their brother, describing him as warm, enthusiastic, and charming. They emphasised his importance to the family and his role as a devoted father, son, and uncle.
He was a gentleman. He was our very, very, very loved brother and uncle, father, son. He was a real family man and we've always been a very close family and didn't deserve any of this happening to him.
Brandram was a banker and former British Army captain. According to reports, he was a descendant of Queen Victoria.
What happens next?
The Metropolitan Police's referral to the police watchdog will determine the next steps in assessing the force's handling of the investigation. The underlying inquiry into the 2017 Putney Bridge incident remains active, with the actual perpetrator still unidentified.
Key Facts:
- Nicholas Brandram, 44, was found dead at his home in Chiswick on 15 September 2026, with his family stating he took his own life following months of investigation pressure
- He was arrested on 15 June 2026 on suspicion of attempted grievous bodily harm related to a 4 May 2017 incident in which a woman was pushed into the path of a bus on Putney Bridge
- His sisters claim he did not match the attacker's profile, citing physical differences including a withered leg, blue eyes rather than brown, and a visible military tattoo
- The Metropolitan Police has referred itself to the police watchdog over its handling of the case
- The investigation into the 2017 Putney Bridge incident remains ongoing, with the actual suspect still unidentified
