Met Police to investigate arrest of Putney Bridge pusher suspect who died
Nicholas Brandram, died weeks after his arrest over the 2017 attack
The police watchdog has ordered an investigation into the Metropolitan Police's contact with a man who was suspected of being the so-called "Putney pusher" before he was found dead at his home.
Nicholas Brandram, 44, was arrested in June in connection with a case on Putney Bridge in which a jogger shoved a woman headfirst into the path of an oncoming bus in May 2017.
The former banker was found unresponsive at his home on Cranbrook Road, Chiswick, on 15th September.
He had been released under investigation following his arrest.
The Metropolitan Police referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) over its contact with Mr Brandram.
On 17th September, the force said its investigation into the Putney Bridge case remained "ongoing" following Mr Brandram's death.
On Friday, the IOPC confirmed it would investigate the Met's handling of the case itself.
The IOPC said:
"We received a mandatory referral from the Metropolitan Police on September 16 relating to prior contact officers had with Nicholas Brandram, who was sadly declared deceased on September 15.
"After carefully considering the referral, we have decided that an investigation is required and that the Met's Directorate of Professional Standards should conduct it.
"We have recommended the review considers matters including the necessity and proportionality of arrest, what engagement was there with the media, and considerations made in relation to Mr Brandram's welfare and the relevant policy.
"Should the investigation conclude without identifying any potential misconduct for any officer involved, the force's final investigation report must be submitted to the IOPC for review, to ensure independent oversight."
Inquest opened and adjourned
Melanie Lee, area coroner for London West, opened and suspended an inquest into Mr Brandram's death at West London Coroner's Court on Tuesday afternoon.
Opening the inquest, the coroner said:
"On the evening of Tuesday September 15 2026, Nicholas did not attend a family meal as planned.
"His brother-in-law attended Nicholas's home address and gained access using a spare key provided by a neighbour.
"Upon searching the house, he found Nicholas in an upstairs room.
"Paramedics attended and despite resuscitation, he was pronounced deceased at 8.58pm."
The coroner said the death had not been considered suspicious and there was "no evidence of third-party involvement".
Family's concerns
Mr Brandram's sisters, who were present at the inquest, have previously accused police of failing him and wider society.
His family have said they believed he took his own life following "months of immense pressure" caused by the Met Police's investigation.
In an interview with BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Brandram's sisters, Alexia Hicks and Sophie Voelcker, said he did not match the description of the attacker.
Ms Hicks said there had been "urgency" by the Met to arrest Mr Brandram and to have that reported in the press.
"I think he couldn't understand why there wasn't urgency to help clear his name," she said.
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