HSBC broker charged over Millwall

A STOCKBROKER with HSBC today faces suspension from his job after he was held and charged in connection with last week's riot at Millwall. Ian Stone, 24, who works for the bank's investments department at Canary Wharf, has been charged with violent disorder.

The clashes, which left almost 100 police officers injured, followed Millwall's Division One play-off defeat by Birmingham City. The trouble was branded 'the most serious street football violence ever seen in London' by the Met's Deputy Commissioner Ian Blair. Film footage shows bricks and pavement slabs being hurled in volleys at police ranks.

Stone, who lives in a £150,000 waterside flat in Rotherhithe, was released on bail on Monday night after he produced security of £1,500. He was ordered to surrender his passport to prevent him travelling to the World Cup and was also told he could not attend any football matches.

A source close to the police investigation confirmed Stone worked for HSBC at its Canary Wharf headquarters. An HSBC spokesman said the company would today start an investigation. 'We are not aware of all the facts. We need to investigate all the facts before we can say anything more. All we can say is we have an employee by the name of Ian Stone who works in the Group Investment section.'

Two other men - John Manzarolli, 24, a warehouseman of Onslow Gardens, Fulham, and Paul Healy, a 19-year-old air-conditioning and ventilation engineer from Daerwood Close, Bromley - also appeared at Camberwell Green magistrates' court yesterday on the same charge.

Video footage is alleged to show three men engaged in various acts for which they were arrested and charged. Dressed in jeans and a purple designer shirt, Stone spoke only to confirm his name, age and address.

Manzarolli, who works at the King's Road branch of Habitat, was remanded in custody while Healy was granted conditional bail. He was also ordered to live and sleep at his home address, not go to any regulated football match and not to apply for any travel documents. Healy left the hearing without commenting and was driven away in a Porsche. All three men were ordered to appear at Inner London Crown Court for a preliminary hearing on 14 May.