A DECORATED army veteran from Trowbridge has condemned king of pop Michael Jackson for wearing his regiment's badge during a court appearance on child sex charges.

Ex-army captain Richard Nicholson MBE said he felt 'physically sick' after spotting Jackson wearing a replica of the Royal Corps of Transport badge in a national newspaper.

Mr Nicholson, 69, who served with the regiment for 44 years, earning medals for campaigns in Malaya, Borneo and Northern Ireland, labelled Jackson 'a disgrace to his nation'.

Speaking from his home in Westbury Road, North Bradley, the retired veteran said: "When I first saw that picture I felt sick. There are not words in the English vocabulary to describe what I think of this fellow.

"I consider it improper for anyone to dress up in military regalia which he or she is not entitled to.

"For a person like him to adorn himself with a badge, under which many brave men have died for the freedom of our world, is an insult both to those men and to our nation. In Malaya my unit alone lost 35 men, killed during the emergency.

"To see him just wearing the badge is bad enough but to have it on during a court appearance is nothing short of disgraceful."

The pop star turned Friday's hearing at the Santa Maria court into a celebration, waving to fans from the roof of his car, just minutes after entering 'not guilty' pleas to seven counts of performing lewd or lascivious acts on a child under 14 and two counts of administering a toxic agent.

Mr Nicholson said 45-year-old Jackson, whose hits include Thriller and Bad should be banned from performing in this country.

"I believe action should be brought against him for dishonouring the badge of a proud British Corps which boasts five Victoria Crosses among its list of honours," he said. Mr Nicholson joined the Royal Corps of Transport in March 1952 then known as the Army Service Corp.

Since the 1950s he served nine years in the Far East and two years in the Middle East.

In the 1970s he left the ranks to become a commissioned officer, serving in Germany and the Falkland Islands.

Mr Nicholson was awarded an MBE in 1989 and retired from the army six years later.

The Royal Corps of Trans-port was amalgamated into the Royal Logistics Corp in 1993.