Jackson accuser's father asks for access

The father of the boy accusing Michael Jackson of sex abuse has asked a court to grant him access to the youngster, fearing for his health.

The teenage cancer survivor is reported to be gravely ill, having lost a kidney.

His father was banned from seeing the boy and his other son and daughter, after pleading no contest to child cruelty in 2002.

The boy’s mother filed for divorce in 2001.

In November, the man who introduced the boy to Jackson, Jamie Masada, said of the teenager: “He has one kidney, and it’s failing on him.”

More recently, Mr Masada said the boy’s health had since improved.

The boy’s father said in papers lodged with the Los Angeles Superior Court: “My son may have been a victim of a crime, that being child molestation, and I would like to be able to see my son to give him love and support.”

He said he wanted to see the boy immediately to “confirm or refute these horrible reports regarding my son’s health”.

Jackson has pleaded not guilty to seven counts of performing lewd or lascivious acts on a child under 14 and two counts of administering an intoxicating agent.

The alleged abuse happened at Jackson’s Neverland Ranch, near Santa Barbara, California.