LONDON (AP) — An Ethiopian man who was mistakenly released from a British prison after being convicted of sexually assaulting a teenager has been deported to his home country, the U.K. government said Wednesday.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu was on a flight to Ethiopia that landed Wednesday morning.

“I have pulled every lever to deport Mr. Kebatu and remove him off British soil,” she said. “I am pleased to confirm this vile child sex offender has been deported. Our streets are safer because of it.”

Kebatu has become a symbol of Britain’s emotive debate over unauthorized immigration, and the government’s struggle to control it.

He arrived in England in a small boat across the English Channel just days before he was arrested in July over alleged assaults

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