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.
How the Case Unfolded
7.40am, May 5, 2017
A 33-year-old woman was walking on the pedestrian path southwards over Putney Bridge during the early morning rush hour. A jogger, coming from the opposite direction, appeared to push the woman, and she fell 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 got off the bus, and in the aftermath of the incident, the victim reportedly asked: “Why me?” Shortly before 8am, the jogger headed back across the bridge and was said to ignore the woman as she called out to him over his behaviour.
August 8, 2017
With the jogger still at large, police decided to put out CCTV footage of the incident, and he was swiftly dubbed the “Putney Pusher”.
August 10, 2017
The net appeared to be closing on the “Putney Pusher” as Scotland Yard made arrests, including an American investment banker, aged 41, living in Chelsea, west London. However, he was 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, were arrested but later released.
June 28, 2018
After more than 12 months probing the case, the Met Police had 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 was closed.
June 15, 2026
A 44-year-old millionaire banker was arrested on suspicion of attempted grievous bodily harm at his west London home on Monday after the case was re-opened. He was 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 praised the police for never giving up the hunt for the “Putney Pusher”.
