Sports Calendar

But is it possible for a grown man to share his bed with pre-pubescent boys and not be guilty of something? The psychologist Oliver James thinks not, saying bluntly: “It’s quite clear that he has a kind of paedophile personality.”

Most researchers agree that paedophiles fall into two groups: “situational” and “preferential” abusers. The former are men who actually prefer sex with adults. They may have developed stable relationships, but they suffer some kind of a collapse — perhaps their wives leave them — and they turn to a child for sexual comfort. Other such abusers are simply indiscriminate. “Preferential” abusers, by contrast, actively prefer sex with children to sex with adults. They will arrange their lives so as to spend as much time as possible in the company of young boys, even if they do not act on their predilection.

“Jackson seems to fall pretty clearly into the latter category,” suggests James. Whether or not the allegations against Jackson are true, he certainly shows every sign of wanting to spend his time with young boys.

James does not believe that Jackson simply missed out on normal childhood activities because he was busy performing: he believes that Jackson actually suffered abuse. “The idea that he is regressed and is arrested in his development is one way of thinking about it, but if you want to know why he repeatedly has young boys to his home, that doesn’t explain it. You have to look at the trauma that he suffered — physical abuse, being beaten up in a really vicious way, combined with some kind of sexual abuse.”

Although Jackson has described in some detail his father’s physical and mental cruelty, he has always denied claims (made by a cousin) that another relative — not his father— sexually abused him.

When Jackson first moved to Neverland he did go to quite a lot of trouble to conceal what was going on. In an unauthorised biography published nine years ago, the author Christopher Andersen interviewed former staff about the goings-on at Jackson’s estate. Employees told how children would be dropped off at the front gate by their parents, then ride in a carriage to the main house. An aide would take them directly to Jackson’s bedroom.

Only Jackson’s maid, Blanca Francia, and the Filipino housekeepers, Mark and Faye Quindoy, had keys to the bedroom and to Jackson’s Secret Playroom.

What will happen next? Earlier this week Sneddon was adamant that Jackson “will be charged”, and the likely offence — lewd or lascivious acts with a child under 14 — carries a sentence of three to eight years in prison. The trial, if one took place, would be the biggest celebrity case since O. J. Simpson but with a considerably weaker man at its centre. Could he actually withstand a trial? No one really knows.

Financial questions also linger. Even before this, there was speculation that he was almost bankrupt. He spent huge amounts on his last album, which flopped. This week he released Number Ones, a greatest-hits compilation, and a new single, the ironically titled One More Chance, is due out soon. In other circumstances the new album might have made a good Christmas present, but there is not much yuletide joy in child-molestation charges. It will be interesting to see what properties and assets Jackson may have to sell to fund his defence.

Explore Music

• CD Reviews

• Live Reviews

• Classical

Editor's choice

• Alicia Keys lets rip
• Streep and Baldwin get complicated
• Guy Ritchie on Sherlock Holmes