Jackson nanny: how I pumped Michael’s stomach

The nanny who looked after Michael Jackson's three children, Grace Rwaramba, has told how she often used to pump his stomach when the pop star took too many prescription drugs. "He always mixed so much of it," she said. "He always ate too little and mixed too much."

Rwaramba said she once called in Jackson's mother, Katherine, and sister, Janet, to attempt an "intervention" to persuade the singer to recognise his addiction to painkillers.

The 42-year-old Rwandan worked for Jackson for more than ten years, first in his office and then as nanny to Michael Jr, known as Prince, now 12; Paris, 11; and Prince Michael II, seven, nicknamed Blanket.

She claims she was sacked by Jackson for getting too close to the children. But this had happened before and she fully expected to be reinstated soon. "I took these babies in my arms on the first day of each of their lives. They are MY babies," Rwaramba told journalist Daphne Barak for the Sunday Times.

"These poor babies... I was getting phone calls that they were being neglected. Nobody was cleaning the rooms because Michael didn't pay the housekeeper."

Addressing the issue of whether Jackson was under pressure because of the upcoming London concerts, Rwaramba said: "Fifty performances! I told him... what are you doing? He said, 'I signed only for 10.' He didn't know what he was signing. He never did."

Rwaramba claims the children had an awkward relationship with their father. "When Michael was around they froze. I really miss Blanket. He makes me laugh. Only recently, he decided to do a concert for me. He was so cute, singing Billy Jean and other songs by his father.

"I was laughing so hard. Prince and Paris were playing around. It was such a happy moment. Then suddenly Michael walked in and the kids just looked frightened. Michael was so angry."