A millionaire banker and former British Army officer has been arrested nine years after allegedly throwing a woman under a bus on Putney Bridge. The suspect, known as the ‘Putney Pusher’, is accused of pushing a 33-year-old jogger into the path of a double-decker bus in May 2017. The bus driver swerved to avoid hitting the woman, but the shocking CCTV footage sparked a years-long manhunt.
Arrest and charges
The Metropolitan Police confirmed that a 44-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted grievous bodily harm. The arrest relates to the incident on 5 May 2017, when a woman was pushed into the path of a bus on Putney Bridge. The suspect reportedly has ties to several European royal families and works as a director at a private bank after serving with the British Army.
Timeline of events
- May 5, 2017, 7:40am: A jogger wearing grey pushes a woman onto the road on Putney Bridge. A double-decker bus swerves at the last minute, saving her life.
- 7:55am: The jogger returns, ignoring the victim as she confronts him. He disappears and is not seen again.
- June 2018: After a massive manhunt, the Metropolitan Police close the investigation without charging any suspects.
- April 2024: A play called Once Upon a Bridge, performed at the OSO Arts Centre in Barnes, reignites public interest in the case.
- June 15, 2026: A suspect is arrested and charged with attempted grievous bodily harm.
Hero bus driver speaks out
Bus driver Oliver Salbris, who was hailed as a hero for his quick reflexes, recalled the incident. He told the Sunday Times in 2017: ‘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.’ He described the jogger as looking ‘like he was doing it on purpose’ and urged: ‘He needs to be caught and to explain himself. He needs to be prosecuted.’
The Metropolitan Police had previously closed the case despite two arrests and the questioning of 50 suspects. The recent arrest marks a significant breakthrough in the long-running investigation.
