19 December 2023 , 11:30
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Standing around eight-foot tall and looking a little shabby from years on the road, this caravan looks as nondescript as any other - but it was the secret home of Alex Batty ’s mum.
Abandoned in a campsite in France’s remote Ariege region near trees sporting autumnal colours, the portable home is said to have been where Alex stayed with his mother Melanie, who used the name Rose, and grandfather David. The trio disappeared more than six years ago in September 2017. Alex, now 17, called the caravan home but it is now abandoned with police searching for his mother.
Alex told French police it is possible his 43-year-old mum has gone to Finland to see the Northern Lights - but it is considered “unlikely” by the authorities as she remains wanted by Interpol. The most likely possibility remaining is she is still in the same area of France as Alex was living and had her now abandoned campervan, sources have said.
The teenager reappeared suddenly last Wednesday near Toulouse where he was picked up by a delivery driver. The teenager is now back in the UK for Christmas after reportedly living an “alternative” lifestyle.
He left the spiritual community, crossed the Pyrenees and headed back to his home in Oldham after being looked after by French authorities. But the question remains what has happened to Melanie who did not have parental guardianship over her son, with Susan Caruana, his grandmother, legally responsible for looking after him.
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Expat Susie Harrison, 61, who knew her, said Rose gave massages and wanted to set up the commune in the south of France. She said: “Rose is a conspiracy theorist. She believed that Covid-19 was created by the state to control people.” Alex told French police he left after she planned a move to Finland.
Alex Batty, with his mother Melanie and grandfather David (Manchester Evening News)Alex flew home on Saturday to be reunited with his gran Susan Caruana, 68, in Oldham, Greater Manchester. He said: “I’m glad to be home for .”
Police will be speaking to him this week. It is believed he was taken by his mum and her dad David Batty, 64, to live an alternative lifestyle in Morocco. They later lived in Spain and most recently the Pyrenees.
In 2021, Alex began living with his grandad in a village property 35 miles from Perpignan. Frederic Hambye and Ingrid Beauve, who own the home, said Melanie lived nearby in a “spiritual” community. Reports suggested David had died six months ago, but Ms Harrison said she saw the man she knew as Peter two weeks ago.