Haunted, literally falling apart, this image of Michael in 2002 sums up a ghastly 13 years, bookended by child sex allegations.

Throughout the 1990s his increasingly erratic behaviour led the King Of Pop to being dubbed Wacko Jacko, a label he didn't understand.

He said: "Wacko Jacko - where'd that come from? I have a heart and I have feelings. I feel that when you do that to me, it's not nice. Don't do it. I'm not a 'wacko'."

In 1993 Michael was sensationally accused of sexually abusing a 13-yearold boy, Jordan Chandler.

He settled the claims by paying the Chandler family £10million - a move that was never going to silence whispers about his sexuality.

He later insisted: "I'd slit my wrists rather than hurt a child. I could never do that. No one will ever know how much these wicked rumours have hurt me."

The same year, 1993, he became addicted to painkillers and in November, Pepsi withdrew its £35m sponsorship of his tour. Michael was forced to cancel all his concerts.

A little light came in May 1994 when Michael married Elvis Presley's daughter, Lisa Marie. He seemed besotted, gushing: "I'm really learning the real meaning of love."

But the marriage ended in divorce in 1996. It was a sorry year on and off stage with Jarvis Cocker of indie band Pulp ridiculing Michael with a stage invasion during his Brits appearance.

There was more disaster in 1999 when he split with Debbie Rowe, the mother of his two children, Prince and Paris. Seeking a relief in music, his 2001 album Invincible sold eight million copies.

But happiness was marred by a public feud with Sony boss Tommy Mottola over the record's promotion.

And he caused public outrage in 2002, dangling second son Prince Michael II - by an unnamed surrogate mum - over the balcony of a Berlin hotel.

Later he tried to explain: "I got caught up in the excitement of the moment. I would never intentionally endanger the lives of my children."

Money problems began to plague him in 2002, when the concert promoter Marcel Avram sued Michael over missed gigs.

Then, in 2003, Martin Bashir's documentary Living With Michael Jackson showed the star admitting he still had sleepovers with young boys.

Michael told a gobsmacked Bashir: "Why can't you share your bed? That's the most loving thing to do, to share your bed with someone."

The festering suggestions of child abuse came to a head when Michael was arrested in 2003 of molesting 13year-old Gavin Arvizo.

The case came to trial in 2005 although after four months in court Michael was acquitted of all charges.

But the trial had highlighted the growing scale of Michael's money troubles. It was reported that he owed more than £150m on loans.

Then the same year Avram won a multi-million payout from Michael.

The star's debts eventually forced him to sell his beloved Neverland ranch and he began living a restless existence around the world.