FOUND IN FRANCE
Who is Alex Batty and where was he found?
The nomadic commune where Alex has reportedly been since 2017 is said to be cut off from society with no schools
ALEX Batty's six-year disappearance came to an end after he fled his mother's rented home in the French Pyrenees.
He has since opened up about how he escaped — here we look at what happened and where he was found.
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Who is Alex Batty and when did he go missing?
Alex Batty, from Greater Manchester, went missing six years ago.
He was 11 years-old when he disappeared in 2017.
Alex, his mother, and his grandfather David had gone on a pre-agreed trip to Spain in 2017 and were supposed to return after a week, but were not seen again — until he resurfaced in December 2023.
The police began their investigation shortly after, and legal guardian Susan said she thought they may have adopted "an alternative lifestyle" somewhere abroad.
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At the time she said: "They didn't want [Alex] to go to school, they don't believe in mainstream school."
She also said that her daughter and ex-husband had lived on a commune in Morocco with Alex in 2014, three years before the disappearance.
The nomadic commune where Alex has reportedly been since 2017 is said to be cut off from society with no schools.
Where was Alex Batty found?
Alex, now 17, was found in Revel near Toulouse, southern France on December 13, 2023 after he fled his mother's rented home in the Pyrenees mountains.
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Alex trekked for 22 miles over two days before a delivery driver spotted him carrying a skateboard at 3am and stopped, before getting in touch with the police.
He let the lad use his phone to message nan and legal guardian Susan Caruana, 68: “Hello grandma ils(sic) me alex please pick up”.
The driver then took Alex to a police station.
Alex didn't show any ID to the police who questioned him, but was still able to identify himself.
Local reports said: "His face and his story correspond in every way to that of the Briton kidnapped in 2017."
The boy finally returned to the home of his grandmother Susan in Oldham, Greater Manchester on December 16, 2023.
Who is Melanie Batty?
Melanie Batty is the mother of Alex.
However, it is understood Melanie did not have legal parental guardianship of her son.
Speaking in 2018, Alex's guardian and grandmother Susan said: "On the Sunday, they were due back in the afternoon and my husband was going to go and pick them up.
"I got this message on Facebook and it was a YouTube video of the three of them.
"They all spoke on it and Melanie said the reasons why they had done what they had done.
"Alex said it was a million times better being with his mum and grandad. Obviously it hurt me a bit but then my other concerns kicked in.
"The reason I believe they have done this is because basically my lifestyle, my belief systems, are not what they agree with - just simply living day to day, how normal people do.
"They didn't want him to go to school, they don't believe in mainstream school."
Relative Stephen Devine, a cousin of Alex’s mum, told The Sun: “Alex’s mum was involved in a cult.
“His grandma became his guardian but then his mum Melissa and grandfather offered to take him on holiday for a week and they were never seen again.
“It is going to be a big adjustment for him. He’s probably grown up without a formal education.”
What has Alex Batty said about his disappearance?
The British teenager, who was found in France, told reporters he was "glad to be home for Christmas".
He also told The Sun: “I wouldn’t know what was going to happen in my future if I were to stay with my mum, but from the past few years I could get a picture of what life would have been like.
“Moving around. No friends, no social life. Working, working, work and not studying. That’s the life I imagined I would be leading if I were to stay with my mum."
What has Alex Batty said about his escape?
Alex has explained how he walked out on his mum and grandad after six years of wandering across Europe, saying: “I had an argument with my mum and I just thought I’m gonna leave because I can’t live with her.”
He continued: “We had a stupid argument about nothing.
“My mum can argue about anything so it doesn’t take much. She is very set in her views.
" I just had enough and thought, ‘That’s it, I’m leaving’. I wrote a note and said, ‘Hey, Mom. I want you to know I love you very much. I’m very thankful for the life that you provided for me over the past few years.
“Don’t worry about yourself. I’m sure you won’t get found. Don’t worry about me either. You know I can look after myself. I love you very much. Don’t be angry with me. Love Alex.”
He first had doubts about the nomadic life his mum wanted when he was 14.
His feelings grew stronger towards the end of 2022 as he considered his dreams of becoming a computer software engineer.
Alex said: “I first started thinking about leaving when I was 14 or 15.
“I realised it wasn’t a great way to live for my future. The cloud had lifted because I started weighing everything up again — the pros and cons of England."
He added: “It would always be the same whether it was France or Spain.
“In the mountains, in the middle of nowhere. No people my age.
“So when I was about 16 I spoke to grandad about going back to England.
“My mum was against the idea. She was very anti-government, anti-vax.
"She was worried that if I were to go back to a country and get my ID I would be put into care. Her catchphrase was becoming a ‘slave to the system’.
“She wasn’t really open to any other opinions whereas grandad is more of a listener.
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“He was always like, ‘I want you to do what’s best for you’.
“He kept on saying every time, the reason I came with you, is so that I could make sure that you were happy and healthy with a roof over your head.”
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