By Carol Driver
Bizarre telephone messages left by Michael Jackson in which he pleads for financial help and expresses fears for his life have been revealed.
In the series of recordings, left on an annoymous friend's answering machine, the singer tells how he thought he was involved with the Italian Mafia and wanted to leave his Neverland ranch.
The messages were apparently made by the star, whose money problems were well documented, six years before his death in June 2009.
Respected journalist Daphne Barak handed the tapes to The Sun after writing a book on celebrity addiction.
If they are genuine, the recordings reveal Jackson, who died aged 50, sounding paranoid and anxious and his voice slurred and slow.
Ms Barak believes this is due to him suffering side-effects of medication.
'Some of Michael's closest confidants talked to me exclusively about his addictions - and provided audio tapes of Michael never heard before,' Ms Barak told The Sun.
'These demonstrate different states of mind he was experiencing under the influence of pharmaceuticals.'
The recordings were made throughout 2003 - the year in which Jackson was exposed in a TV documentary by Martin Bashir for sharing his bed with children.
In the first message he says: 'It is Michael calling. It is very important, I want that 150 in that account for me, because... I am very concerned about my life.
'I am hearing a lot of stories that is still trying to sabotage me and I want to be in a different environment and, um, I've found a place that I like and now I want to be away for a while where they can't find me.
'So please help me, help help me, and, um, more important than . We are brothers.'
In another message, Jackson continues to plead for money, slurring his speech, which is slow: 'It is Michael. Ahh, it is 4:30 in the morning here that's why I sound very sleepy and I'm really worn out... but please check the message I left a day or so ago.
'I am very concerned. I don't trust that man. We think he's bad, we think he is Italian mafia. Please... we must be smarter than him. So please, help me with this. I need to get that, those funds so I can do that, I wanna be away... I don't want to be in Neverland right now.'
The father-of-three leaves a separate message, saying: 'If you get this message call me immediately at 805 *** ****. What I want to talk to you about is very top, top secret... I need a German or Swiss bank...'
Shortly after he leaves another message using the words 'Sun Screen' which appears to be a code word, possibly relating to protection money.
'I am very embarrassed. But, um, there should be that I have some finance that's coming up January, February 2nd, and um... that's why I, we need to have on Sun Screen to the account 150. Please don't be mad at me for ... .
'It's something that's very important to me and my family, because I'm that I'm being stalked and I think it is .'
Jackson's doctor has been charged with involuntary manslaughter over the singer's death. - Daily Mail