Blake Gennison: Alleged NSW south coast Comanchero bikie granted bail

A man who police allege is a high-ranking figure in the Comanchero bikie gang has been granted bail after appearing in court with visible injuries. Find out what happened.

An alleged leader of the outlawed Comanchero bikie gang appeared with a large bruise around his left eye at a Supreme Court bail hearing.

South Coast local Blake Gennison, aged 27, was arrested in May and charged with a string of alleged offences related to drug supply as well as knowingly dealing with the proceeds of crime and participating in a criminal group.

Police will allege Gennison is the sergeant-at-arms of the outlawed Comanchero motorcycle gang’s south coast chapter.

Between September 19, 2020 and March 22, 2021, Gennison is alleged to have supplied 2.23 kilograms of MDMA and 821 grams of cocaine.

His arrest is one of many related to the AN0M app sting — a trojan horse set up by the Australian Federal Police and FBI to monitor criminal networks.

Blake Gennison was arrested during a raid in Wrights Beach, near Jervis Bay. Picture: NSW Police

In court, the prosecution said Gennison is facing allegations “of serious organised crime offending”.

The court heard there were messages where Gennison allegedly asked a member of the Comanchero if he could borrow a “gat” (slang for handgun) to defend his house.

Police will allege Gennison was the sergeant-at-arms of the Comanchero’s south coast chapter. Picture: NSW Police

The prosecution also said Gennison was previously convicted of perverting the court of justice, by attempting to influence a witness in 2014, and received a custodial sentence for affray in 2016.

But Gennison’s defence barrister said although the case against his client appears strong, it relies on inferences relating to the AN0M messages.

“There’s no evidence of any hand over of drugs, no evidence of any hand over of money, in fact there does not appear to be any conversations regarding the prices at all,” the defence said.

Noting his client’s obvious black eye, the defence also said Gennison is suffering “unusually harsh conditions” in custody.

Justice Hament Dhanji SC also remarked on the injury, even though the court heard Gennison told corrective services he received the bruising after falling over in the shower.

“It’s reasonably plain … the explanation given by the applicant to corrective services is untrue,” Justice Dhanji said.

Justice Dhanji told the court the allegations against Gennison carry a maximum of life imprisonment.

“The allegations are clearly serious and the case is clearly strong,” Justice Dhanji said. “(But) I am of the view that whatever the situation is with respect to precisely what … (caused Gennison’s) injury it is plain that his incarceration has caused difficulty.”

Gennison was granted bail in Nowra Local Court earlier this month but the application was stayed until it could be heard by the Supreme Court.

Today, Gennison was granted bail on strict conditions, including abiding by a curfew, wearing electronic monitoring and reporting regularly to police.

He will return to Nowra Local Court in July.