Alex Batty's gran 'felt betrayed' the moment she realised her grandson was gone

22 December 2023 , 22:40

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Alex Batty’s grandmother has told how she felt “utterly betrayed” when he was abducted by her daughter and ex-husband

Alex Batty’s grandmother has told how she felt “utterly betrayed” when he was abducted by her daughter and ex-husband.

The 17-year-old is now back at home in Oldham after having disappeared six years ago with his mother Melanie, 43, and grandfather David, 64, while on holiday in Spain. Susan Caruana, 68, was the legal guardian of Alex when he went missing aged 11 and she said she was “nervous” about allowing him to go on the holiday.

The three flew to Malaga and then stayed in Marbella but never returned home to Oldham, Greater Manchester. Alex reportedly was able to make a call from a beach in Spain to tell his gran that he would not be returning and she was able to overhear his mum saying that they were ditching their phones.

Susan had been Alex’s legal guardian for 18 months before the disappearance. She told The Sun: “Melanie asked to take Alex on holiday and David said he would be going too. Alex wanted to go like any child would. I was nervous about saying ‘yes’ but I felt I had no choice but to give them a chance and trust them. How wrong could I have been.”

She added: “They completely and utterly betrayed me and left me heartbroken. I knew as soon as I heard her say, ‘We’re getting rid of the phones now’ I thought ‘I’ll never see him again’.”

Missing British boy who vanished in Spain 6 years ago found alive in France

Alex had been reportedly living an itinerant lifestyle until he was dramatically found by a delivery driver while walking in southern France and he went to local authorities. A police investigation into the circumstances of his disappearance is ongoing while he is back with his grandmother in Greater Manchester. The whereabouts of his mother Melanie and grandad David Batty is unknown.

Back in the UK he has opened up about his life during the period while he was missing and how he came to the conclusion to return home. Alex said that he was not enjoying the lifestyle where they were moving around and he didn’t have friends or a social life.

He has told how he scribbled a note to his mum around 20 minutes before he left around midnight and then headed off into the night. He trekked for two days, covering around 22 miles before he was picked up by the delivery driver and was taken to the French police earlier this month.

Tim Hanlon