Putney Pusher suspect's family blame Met Police for his death and claim he's innocent

The family of Nicholas Brandram have claimed he was not the “Putney Pusher” and said he “took his own life after months of immense pressure caused by a Metropolitan Police investigation”. He had been detained on June 15 at his home on suspicion of attempted grievous bodily harm.Putney pusher suspect Nicholas Brandram has been found dead Central newsMr Brandram was found unresponsive inside a property in the Chiswick area on Tuesday evening - believed to be the former banker’s west London home.Scotland Yard did not name him as it pursued its investigation.However, his family broke their silence on Thursday to deny his involvement in the incident and claimed the police had no forensic evidence linking him to it.In a statement, they said: “There was no forensic evidence linking Nick to it, no evidence placing him on Putney Bridge at that time, and no credible evidence that he was the man shown in the footage. “In fact, the evidence proved the opposite.“Despite that, the police chose to arrest Nick 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.”The family added: “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 Mr Brandram’s mental health, saying: “Even then, the investigation was not brought to an end. Read More“As a result, Nick is dead.”The suspected ‘Putney Pusher’ who shoved a woman in front of a double-decker bus in LondonPA/Met PoliceThe Metropolitan Police have been approached for comment.On Wednesday, the Met confirmed that a 44-year-old man was found unresponsive inside a property in the Chiswick area, on Tuesday evening, with his death being treated as “unexpected” but not suspicious.A spokesperson for the force said: “At 7.12pm on Tuesday September 15, officers and the London Ambulance Service attended an address in Chiswick, Hounslow after a man was found unresponsive inside a property.“Sadly, a 44-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene. His next of kin have been informed.“At this time his death is being treated as unexpected, but is not believed to be suspicious.“A file will be prepared for the coroner in due course.”The suspected ‘Putney Pusher’PA Archive/PA ImagesThe force said the man was additionally arrested on suspicion of possession of class A and class B drugs.The jogger was filmed running past a man before lashing out at the female pedestrian on May 5 2017.Bus driver Oliver SalbrisITVBus driver Oliver Salbris managed to swerve to avoid crushing the woman, telling the Sunday Times: “If I hadn’t swerved, I would have smashed her head.“It was reflex. The consequences would have been terrible for her – and for me.”It was reported at the time that around 15 minutes after the push, the jogger came back the other way across the bridge, and ignored the victim when she tried to speak to him.