Alex Batty’s Ordeal and Return
A man taken abroad by his mother at age 11 has made contact with her for the first time since his return to the UK. Alex Batty vanished from Oldham in 2017 when Melanie Batty, who lacked legal guardianship, brought him to Spain along with his grandfather, David Batty, for what was planned as a short trip.
For six years, Alex lived in isolation, often lacking basic amenities and cut off from the world. He escaped in 2023 by trekking across the Pyrenees and was discovered near Toulouse, France. Now 20, Alex retraced his path through Spain and France for a new documentary titled Kidnapped By My Mum.
Seeking Understanding Through the Journey
Alex hopes the documentary will shed light on his mother’s motivations. He spoke with locals from small towns and villages he encountered while avoiding authorities.
“My relationship with my mum is such a complicated thing,” Alex said. “I’m annoyed at what she did … the experiences I missed out on, my lack of education.”
“But speaking to all these people about my mum opened up my eyes to why she did what she did. This entire trip has reconnected me to my mum and grandad, and made me want to build that bridge again.”
He aims to eventually reunite with them for positive interactions, free from past pressures.
Harsh Life in Campsites
During their 2022 stays at French campsites, Alex survived on one meal a day. His mother insisted on “spiritual work” and “inner work.”
At 15, Alex began forming his own views. “When I did, if they differed in any way, it would start a row. It was constant battles, constant arguments, constant yelling,” he recalled.
She eventually expelled him from the campervan, leaving him in a tent for months while she stayed in comfort nearby. He attended no school and had just one friend over the six years.
Missed Opportunities for Intervention
One campsite owner contacted French social services about the family but learned they could not act, as Alex was foreign and his true identity was unknown.
“You think that would make them want to come more,” Alex said. “I’m so mad, so mad, that no one did anything.”
Greater Manchester Police closed the criminal probe into the abduction last year, citing no viable path to prosecution.
Rebuilding Life in the UK
Since returning, Alex passed his maths and English GCSEs and welcomed a baby daughter in January.
His mother declined an invitation to address the claims, and his grandfather did not respond to outreach. France Enfance Protegee, the French child protection agency, cited confidentiality in refusing comment on the case.
