Joel Edington tells how receipt proved he did not push woman in front of a bus

In an article in The Spectator, a man has revealed how a receipt for coffee saved him from arrest after the police told him that his name was given to Crimestoppers anonymously as a potential suspect in the ‘Putney Pusher’ incident.

Joel Edington was concerned in advance of a visit from DC Lyle of Wandsworth police station that his online calendar gave no clue as to what his movements were on 5 May when a woman was pushed in front of a bus on Putney Bridge. As he lives alone and works from home most days he was struggling to find an alibi.

In the event DC Lyle agreed with him that he didn't bear a resemblance to the suspect as he was taller and didn't have the 'man boobs' of the person that they were looking for. Mr Edington also felt his sculpted calves proved that he wasn't the man pictured in the video as those of the wanted man were much fatter. However, he remained anxious that the police might discover a What's App message exchange with a friend in which he 'humorously' said that he had taken up jogging again 'to find the woman and finish the job'.

Eventually it occurred to him that there might be some record of his daily visit to a Pret a Manager and when the police called at his house he was able to log on to his credit card account to show a £1.95 charge at a time which showed he could not have been responsible for the crime.

When DC Lyle told him he was in the clear Mr Edington said he was much skinnier that the Putney Pusher because of all the jogging he had been doing recently.

Mr Edington donated the fee for his article in the Spectator to Crimestoppers.

Police continue to search for the jogger - anyone with information should call detectives from Wandsworth CID on 020 3276 2606 or via 101, or tweet @MetCC.

Information can also be reported anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org.

November 10, 2017