Met chief Sir Mark Rowley refuses to apologise for pressure on 'Putney Pusher' suspect who took his own life

From the Newshound archive · first published 8 October 2026 · last updated 9 October 2026.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley has publicly refused to apologise for the pressure placed on Nicholas Brandram, 44, the decorated former Army captain arrested as the prime suspect in the 2017 'Putney Pusher' case. Brandram was found dead at his Chiswick home last month, with his family saying he took his own life after months of Met pressure. Rowley told LBC he would not say sorry but acknowledged the force must review the family's complaints.

Brandram's sisters claim the Met had an email sent 18 minutes after the Putney Bridge incident that cleared him entirely.

The Met referred itself to the IOPC, which ruled the force should investigate its own conduct, including the necessity of the arrest and its dealings with the media.

Rowley stopped short of endorsing the family's claim of innocence, saying only: 'I'm not saying I necessarily agree with that.'