Terrorist with previous violation receives new opportunity.

A judge granted a convicted terrorist, Blake Nicholas Pender, another chance at being in the community despite him breaking the conditions of his previous supervision order. During his court appearance, Justice Mark Ierace of the NSW Supreme Court recommended that Pender consistently sees a psychologist that he already has a good relationship with as a condition of his release under an extended supervision order. This order will be in effect for at least the first six months.

Justice Ierace wished Pender well as he appeared in court via video link. Pender had previously made threats to cut off a police officer's head and kill a magistrate, and in 2017, he was jailed for terror-related knife possession and making these threats. After serving half a decade in prison, Pender was released in October 2022 under an interim supervision order, but was quickly sent back to prison for violating the conditions of his release. As a result, he was given a further 22 months in prison.

However, now at the age of 33, Pender hopes to turn his life around by staying busy with hobbies such as learning Yiddish, rapping, and playing chess. He admitted to making a "stupid" mistake and has shown interest in Christianity, Islam, and most recently Judaism, stating that his search for religion stems from a need to belong. In order to avoid being sent back to prison, Pender will have to abide by the terms of a three-year order that includes electronic monitoring of his movements.

Justice Ierace recommended that Pender attend initial appointments with a psychologist in the hopes that it will help him develop better behavioral strategies. In a recorded phone call from prison, Pender expressed that his time behind bars was a wake-up call and made him realize how harsh the world can be. Upon his release, he plans to rebuild his relationships with family, find full-time employment, and continue with therapy and drug and alcohol treatment.

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