Nicholas Brandram, a 44-year-old HSBC banker and military veteran who was the prime suspect in the 2017 “Putney pusher” case, was found dead at his home in Chiswick, west London, on Tuesday, September 15, according to statements from the Metropolitan Police.
Officers and the London Ambulance Service attended the Chiswick address at 19:12 after Brandram was found unresponsive inside the property, where he was pronounced dead at the scene. According to the Metropolitan Police, the death is being treated as unexpected but is not believed to be suspicious, and a file will be prepared for the coroner in due course.
The 2017 Putney Bridge Incident and Police Investigation
The investigation stems from a May 5, 2017, incident on Putney Bridge where video footage captured a male jogger forcefully shoving a 33-year-old female pedestrian into the path of an oncoming double-decker bus. The victim avoided serious injury only because the bus driver swerved around her at the last moment, sustaining a few minor injuries. CCTV footage showed the jogger running on, and roughly 15 minutes later, he passed the victim again while she received help on the bridge, ignoring her calls to stop.
The Metropolitan Police described the suspect at the time as being in his early to mid-30s with short brown hair and a stocky build, wearing dark blue shorts, trainers, and a grey T-shirt. Although detectives interviewed more than 50 men and arrested three suspects during their initial inquiry, the Met wound down its investigation in 2018 without bringing any charges. The case later renewed public attention when the Met Police arrested Brandram at his home on June 15 under suspicion of attempted grievous bodily harm. Following his initial arrest, Brandram was released on bail, and in September, after answering bail, he was re-bailed with no conditions before being released under investigation.
Background, Military Service, and Royal Lineage
Beyond his banking career, Brandram had a distinct background encompassing military service and royal descent. He served as a Captain in the Scots Guards, completing deployments in Iraq, Bosnia, and Afghanistan. He later told the website Citywealth in March that he worked as a senior relationship manager at HSBC Private Bank and was a co-parenting single father to a three-year-old child. His professional achievements included being invited to a Buckingham Palace garden party following his service in Afghanistan, and he was awarded a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012.
Brandram also held notable royal lineage. He was a direct descendant of Queen Victoria, a grandson of Princess Katherine of Greece and Denmark, and had a family connection where the late Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip, served as his father’s godfather. In 2013, the Daily Telegraph reported on his conviction for crashing his Harley-Davidson motorbike into a female cyclist near Hyde Park Corner and driving off without exchanging details.
Did You Know? Nicholas Brandram was a direct descendant of Queen Victoria, with his grandmother being Princess Katherine of Greece and Denmark, and the late Duke of Edinburgh serving as his father’s godfather.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened to Nicholas Brandram?
Brandram was found unresponsive at his home in Chiswick, west London, on Tuesday, September 15, and was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency responders.
What was the “Putney pusher” case?
It was a 2017 police investigation into an incident on Putney Bridge where a male jogger shoved a female pedestrian into the path of a moving double-decker bus, narrowly avoiding a fatal collision.
Was Brandram ever formally charged in connection with the 2017 incident?
No. Although Brandram was arrested by the Metropolitan Police in June on suspicion of attempted grievous bodily harm and subsequently re-bailed with no conditions in September, the Met wound down its original investigation in 2018 and no charges were brought.
Related reading