"The fear for myself pales in comparison to my fear for the community," the man said.

"In the last weeks I have thought about abandoning my career so I can stay in the area to protect the community from the threat."

James Cameron Wood assaulted the 25-year-old man and two other boys, all aged under 16 at the time.

Wood was jailed for a minimum non-parole period of three years and nine months and his earliest release date is August 22.

His full sentence was seven years and six months.

Wood's sentencing hearing heard he had sought help before police became involved in the case, and also admitted to all offences once charges were laid, showing his remorse.

A psychological report said there was a good chance he could be rehabilitated and not offend again, blaming the offences on same-sex attraction that had been repressed for fear of rejection from his social group, resulting in him developing unhealthy attachments to the sons of friends.

His victim, however, says research and statistics about sex offenders gave him little faith with regard to rehabilitation.

Child protection organisation Bravehearts reports 70 per cent of child sex offenders had between one and nine victims while 20 per cent had 10 to 40 victims.

A 1994 survey of 453 paedophiles revealed they were collectively responsible for the molestation of over 67,000 children - that's an average of 148 children per individual paedophile.

Bravehearts's 2012 report on child sexual assault found abuse was often well planned and thought out, with offenders "protected by the silence that has been characteristic of sexual abuse generally".

"Unlike other young offenders who grow out of their offending behaviour, juvenile sex offenders tend to grow into it," the report said.

"Most sexual offender behaviour escalates over a period of time - it does not suddenly just happen."

In the three years Wood has been in jail, his victim said he had been moving forward with his life, thanks to the support of family and friends.

But he is frightened about the future.

Professor Stephen Smallbone, of Griffith University's criminology and criminal justice school, has previously said rapists and child molesters use sex offender programs to gain freedom.

He said prison and justice authorities put too much reliance on the programs and not enough on risk assessment of offenders in real life "stressful" situations.

"How then can you say that only after three years of controlled 'programs' that he will not attack again or does not present a threat to the community?" the Illawarra victim said.

"I only ask a full sentence be carried out so that the chances of this happening again are further lowered."

If not, he asks at least for strict conditions.

"I came to hate living in Wollongong and tried to spend as much time as I could with friends in Sydney just so I didn't have to be in the same environment where I could run into him or his family," he said.

"In the time that I have heard about James Cameron Wood and his parole, these feelings have come flooding back. This is why I implore the parole board to make a condition of his parole that he not reside in Wollongong."

The Illawarra man will be writing to the NSW State Parole Authority to voice his concerns.

"I can only hope that will give perspective as to the impact that the assaults had on myself and the two other boys," he said.

"But also how these attacks have wider implications to the community as a whole.

"Even after 10 years, the attacks made by this man can still haunt me to this day."

For support or more information visit: bravehearts .org.au.

Source: Illawarra Mercury