THE man behind the anti-Islamic film that led to the violent unrest in the Middle East could be sent back to jail for violating his probation by distributing the movie.

Nakoula Basseley Nakoula, 55, has convictions for possessing drugs used to make methamphetamine and for bank fraud, a declaration of bankruptcy, demands for unpaid tax bills and at least 17 aliases including ''Kritbag Difrat'' and ''PJ Tobacco''.

Nakoula Basseley Nakoula is escorted from his home in California. Credit:Reuters

Mr Nakoula, a married father of three and an Egyptian Coptic Christian, who once owned a petrol station, is believed to have worked on the script for Innocence of Muslims in a Californian jail cell.

He is on probation after serving a year of a 21-month sentence for fraud, which involved obtaining credit cards in the names of other people.