December 24th 2023.
Alex Batty's story is a heartbreaking one. Six years ago, he went on a week-long holiday to Spain with his mum, Melanie, and grandad, David. But he never returned home.
Just last week, Alex was found in France after leaving the 'spiritual' community he had been living in with his mum and grandad. He had been living a 'nomadic' lifestyle, rarely staying in one place for more than a few weeks.
As news of Alex's reappearance spread, his mum Melanie made a hasty departure from her most recent rented accommodation in the hamlet Villefort, near Chalabre in the Aude. In an email to her landlord, Tony Smith, she wrote that she had to leave "in the middle of the night" and left the keys on the bar.
Tony, 81, quickly realised that Melanie, David and Alex were the family he had been renting to. He said: "When Alex did a runner she must have thought the game was up and it's time to go."
Piles of belongings were left behind in the rented home, including suitcases full of clothes, Alex's PlayStation and games, a laptop, books and games, and health food and milk.
Alex had spent his first night in the UK for six years last weekend and was reunited with his grandmother and legal guardian Susan Caruana. He said he left his mum because he wanted to return to England and receive a proper education.
Melanie is believed to be travelling with a close Italian friend who she calls her 'disciple'. Tony is certain she will eventually return to retrieve her belongings, as she had paid the rent two days before leaving.
He added: "She's a good person and I believe the only crime she's committed is loving her son. I think she's in Spain now. Either that or she's being helped by a commune. I've told her to turn herself in so all this can be resolved."
Greater Manchester Police, who retrieved Alex from France and flew him home last week, are now treating his case as an abduction. Alex Batty's story is a sad reminder of how quickly life can change.
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