The Estate of Michael Jackson has made a statement condeming recent rumours that the late King of Pop stockpiled a disturbing and potentially illegal pornography collection. They have branded the tabloid reports as 'false' and describe the continued probing into his life a 'witch hunt'.

Michael JacksonMichael Jackson's estate deny latest gossip

Earlier this week, articles surfaced citing 'police reports' apparently from the Santa Barbara Country Sheriff's Department which featured a number of claims about a supposed pornography collection belonging to Michael Jackson. The collection was said to hold books, magazines, videos and images, including those of exposed children and animal torture. However, the Sheriff's Office have denied releasing any such evidence or documents to the media and claim that much of what has emerged this week has merely been obtained via the internet.

'Some of the documents appear to be copies of reports that were authored by Sheriff's Office personnel as well as evidentiary photographs taken by Sheriff's Office personnel interspersed with content that appears to be obtained off the internet or through unknown sources', a spokesperson for the Sheriff's Office told Billboard. 'The Sheriff's Office did not release any of the documents and/or photographs to the media. The Sheriff's Office released all of its reports and the photographs as part of the required discovery process to the prosecution and the defense.'

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Now the Executors of Michael Jackson's Estate have commented on the rumours with a reminder of Jackson's acquittal in 2005 from child molestation charges. 'Everything in these reports, including what the County of Santa Barbara calls 'content that appears to be obtained off the Internet or through unknown sources' is false, no doubt timed to the anniversary of Michael's passing', they said in an official statement. 'Those who continue to shamelessly exploit Michael via sleazy internet 'click bait' ignore that he was acquitted by a jury in 2005 on every one of the 14 salacious charges brought against him in a failed witch hunt. Michael remains just as innocent of these smears in death as he was in life even though he isn't here to defend himself.'

On Saturday, it will be exactly seven years to the day since Michael Jackson died from cardiac arrest following an overdose of prescribed general anaesthetic propofol and benzodiazepine.