Tapes of leaked answering machine messages have revealed the late 'Thriller' singer – who died of acute Propofol intoxication last June – begged friends for money to help him start a new life as he feared for his safety.

In one message, published by The Sun newspaper, he said: "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 (name withheld) is still trying to sabotage (inaudible) me and I want to be in a different environment and, um, I've found a place that I like and now (inaudible) I want to be away for a while where they can't find me. So please help me, help (inaudible) help me, and, um, more important than (inaudible). We are brothers."

Other messages – which were given to US journalist Daphne Barak after she wrote a book about celebrity addiction – reveal the 'embarrassed' singer was trying to flee the 'Italian Mafia' and make more requests for cash, using the code word 'sun screen' for money.

In many messages he sounds frantic and paranoid, while in others his voice is slurred and he appears dazed and confused.

Daphne said: "Some of Michael's closest confidents talked to me exclusively about his addictions - and provided audio tapes of Michael never heard before.

'These demonstrate different states of mind he was experiencing under the influence of pharmaceuticals."