Judge bars sale of Jackson possessions

An American businessman has been told he cannot sell Michael Jackson’s belongings that were awarded to him after a legal dispute with the pop star’s family, it emerged today.

But Henry Vaccaro told a court in Los Angeles that he had already done exactly that – and they were on a ship on their way to Europe.

The possessions, including personal letters, drawings and costumes, have been displayed on news programmes and even on a pay-per-view website established by Mr Vaccaro.

The judge, sitting in the Los Angeles federal court, ordered that the website be shut down.

But when the judge also ruled that the items could not be sold, Mr Vaccaro, 63, from New Jersey, said they were already on their way to a European buyer.

“The goods are gone and God bless them,” he said.

Lawyers for pop star Jackson said they would seek a court order to have the memorabilia returned.

The sale price has not been revealed by construction company owner Vaccaro but is believed to be nearly €1.2m.

Among the massive collection is one of Jackson’s earliest stage costumes, from his days in the Jackson Five, with his name handwritten on the inside label.

There is a medical contract for plastic surgery, supposedly performed on Janet Jackson, and even several sketches of noses.

Among other drawings are two by Jackson – one entitled “Little Boy 1994” and one of Charlie Chaplin.

Mr Vaccaro acquired the collection after nine years of legal wrangling with the Jackson family.

He said a company formed by the Jacksons had agreed to buy his Kramer Guitar Company in 1992, but then defaulted on €1.15m in payments the next year.

Mr Vaccaro said he ultimately acquired the collection after paying off a storage and shipping bill owed by the Jackson family to a warehouse in California.

He photographed the belongings and posted the pictures on a pay-per-view website.

Jackson’s lawyer Brian Wolf said the pop star’s possessions should not have been included in the goods given to Vaccaro.

The legal wrangle over the personal possessions adds to the woes of Jackson, who is currently fighting fresh child abuse allegations.

He currently stands accused of sexually molesting a teenage cancer patient at his Neverland Ranch in Santa Barbara, California.

The 45-year-old star has pleaded not guilty to the charges and has called the allegations a “big lie“.