TV network SBS has today canned one of next year's most highly anticipated reality shows after the Daily Telegraph revealed its star lied about his "criminal past"

The station's bosses were sent into an embarrassing, last-minute editing frenzy after it was revealed Michael LaHoud, the alleged "gangster star'' of its upcoming series Once Upon A Time in Punchbowl, was not what he claims to be.

HOW FATHERHOOD TURNED MY LIFE AROUND

media_camera Con-vict....The facts

In a statement released this morning, SBS said it had decided to remove the series from its 2014 scheduling for now.

"The integrity and accuracy of SBS programming and respect for our audience is paramount,

therefore the network has decided to remove the series from its schedule until full investigations

are carried out to its satisfaction," the network said.

"SBS will work with its production partner Northern Pictures to review and verify the

documentary's material.

"Once Upon a Time in Punchbowl will air later in 2014."

LaHoud, who has already made headlines thanks to his ferocious exterior and head-to-toe tattoos, has been exposed as a phony after it was discovered his claims of gang life, incarceration and fathering children while in jail have been greatly exaggerated.

The 28-year-old, who also sat down for a lengthy tell-all interview with The Sunday Telegraph a week ago, claimed - among other things - that he was sentenced to almost five years in jail in 2007 for armed robbery.

media_camera Michael Lahoud / Picture: Andrew Quilty

media_camera Michael Lahoud / Picture: Andrew Quilty

He also said his sentence was spread across Silverwater, Long Bay and Goulburn jails and that, during this time, he fathered three daughters with his now-estranged wife during "conjugal'' visits, which are not part of the NSW prison system. Court records reveal that, while a Michael James LaHoud pleaded not guilty to armed robbery in Sydney's Downing Centre court, he spent just four days on remand at Silverwater and all charges were later dismissed.

Court documents show he was arrested on June 9, 2006, and was granted bail at his first court appearance in Parramatta Bail Court the following day.

media_camera Michael Lahoud/ Picture: Andrew Quilty

He remained in custody until June 14, when he signed a bail undertaking at Balmain Court. But his graphic tales of prison life could lead viewers to believe it was the most eventful four days in the history of NSW prisons.

"It's like a jungle in there, one big jungle,'' he says in the show.

media_camera SBS duped by reality TV 'criminal'

"There's no love, there's no trust, there's no honour, there's no respect, there's nothing, just basically every man for himself. Everyone just trying to survive. I knew murderers in there, like killers, I seen a man get raped in his cell and I have seen people get stabbed over shoes, over one match and, yeah, it's a horrible place in there. It's not where you wanna be in life."

Similar dramatic tales of gang life in Punchbowl's Telopea St also fail to check out despite the fact the SBS series links LaHoud to the area extensively. LaHoud claims his life began to unravel when he was expelled from Punchbowl Boys High and became a "drug runner for violent gangs on Telopea (St)''.

But former NSW Assistant Police Commissioner Clive Small - an expert on middle-eastern crime and the Telopea Street gang - said he had never heard of LaHoud.

"I've checked my records and to be honest there are only two Michaels that stand out. Michael Kannan and Michael Ibrahim,'' Mr Small told The Daily Telegraph yesterday.

"There's no Michael LaHoud, or even a Michael LaHood.''

When contacted yesterday, an SBS spokeswoman said the show's producers intended to re-edit part of the program which features Lahoud.

"SBS takes your query seriously and is investigating the matter," the spokeswoman said.

The embarrassing revelations come amid a huge marketing and publicity campaign by SBS - one in which LaHoud stars prominently.

Last night SBS removed LaHoud from the show's on-air promotions.

The costly documentary series is scheduled to debut on January 7 and is a follow-up to the hugely successful Once Upon A Time In Cabramatta, which aired two years ago and was a critical smash for the government-funded broadcaster.

CLAIM: Spent four and a half years as an inmate in Long Bay, Silverwater and Goulburn jails.

FACT: Spent four days on remand in Silverwater. No record of him at Long Bay or Goulburn.

CLAIM: Fathered three children to his partner during jail visits.

FACT: There is no provision for conjugal visits in the NSW prison system.

CLAIM: Was a member of the notorious Telopea Street crime gang.

FACT: Police have no recollection of him being part of that gang.