A BANKER who leapt to his death from an eighth-storey rooftop restaurant feared he would lose his job after playing a prank at work, it has been reported.

Oxford graduate Anjool Malde, whose parents, Naina and Bharat, live in Yarm, near Stockton, is believed to have posed as one of his clients, posting a message on a financial website saying: “I am hot, I am hot.”

Investigators think this was probably a reference to his client being on a successful run of deals. Mr Malde’s client, who works for hedge fund management company Brevan Howard, complained to the company that runs the discussion forum.

An investigation suggested Mr Malde, known as Jools, had impersonated the client from his office computer at Deutsche Bank, which prompted bosses to send him home early on July 3, two days before his death.

Mr Malde, an only son, poured himself a glass of champagne and put on his best Hugo Boss suit before he jumped from the top of the Coq d’Argent restaurant, in London, two days before his 25th birthday. Colleagues believe he was convinced he would lose his job.

One friend said: “It was a mildly offensive remark which triggered a tragic chain of events.”

Another source said: “On the face of it, it was a very trivial incident. But in the City, issues which involve potential loss of money or reputation are taken very seriously.”

Police have found no evidence that Mr Malde had downloaded inappropriate material on his computer or was involved in criminal behaviour.

Friends believe he was worried about losing his job because three colleagues had recently been made redundant.

Mr Malde was working long hours and is said to have often been at his desk by 6am.

On the social networking site Twitter, Mr Malde made reference to his concerns about rising unemployment figures and his workload.