The LynnMall attacker was no stranger to the police or the courts - raising questions about why he wasn't in prison, if authorities were so worried about what he was capable of.
Court documents reveal concerns about the risk Ahamed Aathill Mohamed Samsudeen posed - with one pre-sentence report saying he had the means and motivation to commit violent acts in the community.
Judges appear to have had no other choice than to impose less restrictive sentences.
Reporter Sarah Robson has been looking at the terrorist's criminal history.
She spoke to Corin Dann.
