The case of the “Putney Pusher” has gripped London for nearly a decade.
Why did a jogger suddenly apparently push a woman on Putney Bridge head-first into a bus lane?
Fortunately, bus driver Olivier Salbris, driving on the 430 route, managed to swerve to avoid hitting her by inches as she lay on the ground.
The notorious incident in south-west London happened in 2017.
On Monday, a millionaire banker, aged 44, was arrested on suspicion of attempted grievous bodily harm.
He was bailed on Monday night having been re-arrested on suspicion of possession of Class A and Class B drugs.
Here is how the case of the “Putney Pusher” has unfolded over the years:
7.40am May 5, 2017
A woman, aged 33, was walking on the pedestrian path southwards over Putney Bridge during the early morning rush hour.
A jogger, coming from the opposite direction, appears to push the woman and she falls into a bus lane.
Bus driver Mr Salbris reacted quickly to avoid his double decker bus hitting the woman, with its wheels stopping just inches from her head.
7.55am May 5, 2017
A passenger gets off the bus and in the aftermath of the incident the victim reportedly asks: “Why me?”
Shortly before 8am, the jogger heads back across the bridge and is said to ignore the woman as she calls out to him over his behaviour.
August 8, 2017
With the jogger still at large, police decide to put out CCTV footage of the incident and he is swiftly dubbed the “Putney Pusher”.
August 10, 2017
The net appears to be closing on the “Putney Pusher” as Scotland Yard makes arrests including an American investment banker, aged 41, living in Chelsea, west London.
However, he is later cleared of involvement as his lawyers proved he was on holiday in California at the time.
August 12, 2017
Two more men, including one aged 44, are arrested but later released.
June 28, 2018
After more than 12 months probing the case, the Met Police has still not gathered sufficient evidence to charge anyone over the incident despite investigating more than 50 ‘persons of interest”.
With the trail running cold, the investigation is closed.
June 15, 2026
A 44-year-old millionaire banker is arrested, on suspicion of attempted grievous bodily harm, at his west London home on Monday after the case is re-opened.
He is bailed that evening, until September, having been re-arrested on suspicion of possession of Class A and Class B drugs.
June 16, 2026
Putney MP Fleur Anderson praises the police for never giving up the hunt for the “Putney Pusher”.
