The criminal investigation into the disappearance of teenager Alex Batty, who was missing abroad for six years after going to Spain with his mother and grandfather, has been discontinued. The investigation ended on the basis he and his family would not support a prosecution, Greater Manchester Police said. Alex Batty, 18, went missing seven years ago after travelling to Spain with his mother Melanie and grandfather David. He spent six years living a nomadic life with them in France , before deciding as a teenager to leave and return to the UK.
After fleeing he was found by a delivery driver after he had walked for 22 miles over two days, drinking from mountain springs and sleeping in the woods. He left his mother and grandfather behind and returned to normal life in Oldham in December , with his grandmother Susan Caruana, who was his legal guardian at the time of his disappearance in After reporting to authorities and being reunited with Ms Caruana, Alex told how after first being taken to live his new life with his mother he was excited to be back with her - but after a few years he realised it was 'not the best for me'.
He described nomadic life as 'boring, to say the least' and 'very isolated from my own peers'. Alex Batty, 18, went missing seven years ago after travelling to Spain with his mother and grandfather. Alex disappeared during a holiday to Spain with his mother Melanie and grandfather David. But after his return he begged police officers not to arrest either his mother or grandfather. Today, Greater Manchester Police said the force said they had closed the criminal investigation into the alleged kidnapping because Alex and his family did not support a prosecution.
In a statement, a spokesperson said: 'Detectives in Oldham have explored all possible lines of inquiry, however we have concluded there is insufficient grounds to move forward with any criminal prosecution. Detective Superintendent Matt Walker who has led this investigation said; 'Alex and his safety has been at the forefront of our minds and actions since he was found in Toulouse, France in Alex is pictured with his mother and grandfather after allegedly being abducted when he was Alex flew to Malaga in September before being taken to a 'spiritual community' in the foothills of the Pyrenees.
Investigators believe Alex escaped the rural community in southern France and spent days trekking across the French Pyrenees before being picked up by a trucker who took him to a police station in Revel, near Toulouse. After being 'kidnapped' by his relatives in , the teenager first discussed returning to the UK with his mother at the age of 16, but said it was a split-second decision to leave when he escaped in December , leaving a note to his mother on a table.
