More than four years after he was sentenced to spend seven years in penitentiary for what was described as a savage, brutal and horrific sexual assault, Marcellus Jacob will be released on parole in October.

He will have served two-thirds of his sentence.

On Wednesday, the National Parole Board set Jacob's statutory release date for Oct. 28. He will be released on the first working day prior to that, a decision of the parole board states.

Under a list of special conditions, Jacob must:

• follow psychological counselling;

• reside at a community residential facility or community correctional centre;

• report any relationships with women to his parole supervisor;

• abstain from intoxicants;

• have no contact with his victim or her family; and

• have no contact with children under 19 without the written permission of his parole supervisor.

In the six-page written decision, the parole board states Jacob must live in a halfway house due to the risk to society.

This morning, Evelyn Blair, the board's regional manager of community relations and training, said it will be up to the board where Jacob goes after he's released, though it will be in the B.C./Yukon region.

She strongly advised though that Yukoners shouldn't assume he will return to the community. It will be up to the parole board to decide where he goes, she said.

The report notes that Jacob has expressed hope at returning to the location of his offence.

However, the report notes that the facilities in his desired location have declined to offer him a place to live.

'Many of the negative influences of your youth can be found in that community and it is suggested you are setting yourself up for failure by returning to this location,' the document states.

A halfway house provides numerous conditions and restrictions residents must meet rather than simply being released back into regular society, Blair pointed out.

Leave privileges from the halfway house will be permitted in accordance with parole board policy and the rules of the facility.

The two board members Maryam Majedi and Patrick Storey who signed the pre-release report and granted the conditions listed the factors they considered in reaching their decision.

'You are serving your first federal sentence of seven years for break and enter and commit sexual assault with a weapon,' the decision states. 'At the age of 21, you broke into a woman's home and, over a prolonged period of time, sexually assaulted her in a brutal and sadistic fashion.'

Repeatedly threatened, Jacob's victim was raped with household objects, cut with a knife, bound with tape 'and subjected to numerous indignities designed to humiliate and terrorize her,' the report notes, going on to state the victim suffered serious harm as a result.

The assault lasted for five hours after Jacob broke into her house while she slept.

While this was his first sexual offence, the report points to many incidents in a troubled childhood that were considered.

'Your institutional behaviour has been described as problematic although there are no serious institutional convictions,' the decision reads. 'There are a number of incidents documented in which you became verbally abusive towards staff over relatively minor issues.'

Jacob has been assessed as a moderate to high risk to reoffend sexually and a high risk to reoffend violently as well as in general offences.

The report also notes a number of programs Jacob has taken, including those for addictions, sex offenders, cognitive skills and anger management. He was suspended recently from the national maintenance sex offender program.

'The key stressors that could lead you to violence is substance abuse, anger and frustration, depression, associating with negative peers and the emotional upheaval the loss of a loved one may incur,' the document reads.

During his hearing, it notes Jacob attributed his behaviour to substance abuse and anger.

'While in the institution (penitentiary), you have pursued the guidance of aboriginal and spiritual practices, have had one-on-one counselling with the institutional elder and the native liaison. You have made efforts to change your attitude and behaviour and have been open and disclosive.

'(Your) assistant and your parole officer reiterated your participation in counselling and your openness,' notes the report.

The report goes on to state that Jacob himself acknowledged the need for structured residency and that he would like to continue with counselling when he's released.

After a victim impact statement was played where the woman described the pain, suffering, emotional and physical trauma the sexual assault had on her, he expressed remorse, it was noted.

'Given the serious nature of the index offence and your criminal history, the board is of the view that a more gradual release process is necessary to assist you in your reintegration into society,' the parole board stated.

The conditions imposed are reasonable and necessary to protect society and help in Jacob's reintegration into society, it's noted.