Suspect in London's 'Putney pusher' case dies by suicide after telling family investigation was 'killing him'

Nicholas Brandram, 44, who was suspected of being the so-called 'Putney pusher', told his family days before his death that the police investigation was 'murdering him'. He was found dead at his home in Chiswick, west London.

His sisters, Alexia Hicks and Sophie Voelcker, said he felt there was no end in sight to the investigation and that he had 'no fight left' in him. His lawyers had warned the Metropolitan Police last week that his mental health had deteriorated and that he was receiving treatment in a psychiatric hospital, following renewed press coverage reporting he had been released under investigation.

Brandram was arrested on 15 June on suspicion of attempted grievous bodily harm, nine years after a jogger shoved a woman into the path of an oncoming bus on Putney Bridge in 2017. Detectives had originally interviewed 50 men and arrested three suspects before winding the investigation down in 2018.

His family described his arrest as heavy-handed and disproportionate, saying armoured officers arrived at his home while a tipped-off reporter filmed the scene. Although Brandram was not named in media reports since he had not been charged, his family said biographical details published — describing him as a wealthy banker and army veteran with royal family connections — made him easily identifiable.

His sisters said there was no forensic evidence linking him to the attack, and that he had voluntarily taken part in an identification parade and provided a DNA sample, but police had not completed the DNA analysis after weeks. Brandram had grown increasingly distressed by abuse directed at him on online forums.

In his final days he stayed with his sisters, spent six days in a psychiatric hospital and was discharged on Sunday. He was found dead the following Tuesday.

Ch Supt Dan Knowles offered condolences to the family, confirmed the investigation remains ongoing, and said a mandatory referral was made to the Independent Office for Police Conduct on 16 September.