Alex Batty: Missing British teenager found six years after kidnapping expected to return to UK in ‘next few days’

A boy who went missing in 2017 and was found in France this week has spoken to his grandmother and is expected to return to the UK in the “next few days”, police have said.

Assistant Chief Constable Chris Sykes of the Greater Manchester force said Susan Caruana was “content” he was her grandson, Alex Batty, but further checks would be carried out when he arrived home.

The family of the youngster, now aged 17, are said to be “massively relieved”.

Alex disappeared with his mother and grandfather six years ago during a family holiday to Spain.

He is believed to have been abducted by the pair to live an “alternative” lifestyle abroad.

Despite international public appeals, Alex’s grandmother – his legal guardian – had not seen him since he left the UK.

The teenager was found near the French city of Toulouse on Wednesday and taken to a police station in the village of Revel by chiropody student Fabien Accidini.

Mr Sykes said: “I think I speak on behalf of the whole of Greater Manchester Police when I say we are relieved and overjoyed to receive the news from the French authorities that, they believe Alex Batty has been found safe and well.

“It’s been six years since his disappearance.

“This is a huge moment for Alex, for his family and for the community in Oldham.”

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He added: “The young man and Alex’s grandmother spoke in video call last night.

“And whilst she is content that this is indeed Alex, we obviously have further checks to do when he returns to the United Kingdom.

“Our main priority now is to see Alex returned home to his family in the UK and our investigation team are working around the clock with partner agencies and the French authorities to ensure they are all fully supported.

“Alex and his family remain our focus and we still have some work to do in establishing the full circumstances surrounding his disappearance and where he has been in all those years.

“I can only imagine the emotions they have experienced as a family throughout this ordeal.”

Mr Sykes said: “We’re working hard with the French authorities to bring Alex back as soon as possible and he’s getting well cared for by the French authorities.

“We’re in close liaison with them and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and our priority is to get him back to the UK and getting back to his family in Oldham as soon as possible.

“I expect it to happen over the next few days.”

Mr Sykes said he had “no idea” where the teenager had been and needed to speak to Alex to “establish the full facts”.

He told reporters the focus was on the teenager’s welfare, but added: “Obviously his mother is part of that conversation and investigation.”

However, Mr Sykes declined to answer whether the teenager’s mother Melanie Batty, 43, and 64-year-old grandfather David Batty are suspects in his disappearance.

Questioned on how Alex and his grandmother Ms Caruana were feeling, Mr Sykes said: “From what I have seen from the officers that have spoken to the grandmother, she has a whole host of emotions and feelings as you could imagine.

“The French authorities have been looking after Alex really, really well.

“Our real concern is how we bring Alex back to the UK in a safe way and make sure we look after his wellbeing.”

Mr Sykes continued: “The family here in Oldham … they are obviously massively relieved and a whole host of emotions are going through their minds at the moment as they come to terms with this good news.”

Mr Accidini told Sky News Alex revealed that since being kidnapped by his mother they had lived in a luxury house in Spain with around 10 people as part of a “spiritual community”, before moving to France in around 2021.

The teenager said he had been hiking in nearby mountains for more than four days in an attempt to return to England.