23 December 2023 , 22:23
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Alex Batty's mum reportedly told her landlord "I have to leave" after discovering her son had left to return to the UK.
Melanie Batty is said to have upped and left the rented home in Southern France where she was staying with son Alex, telling her landlord "I'll be back". The teenager was discovered walking along a rural road four days later by French driver Fabien Accidini, and returned home to Oldham, Greater Manchester, to live with grandmother Susan Caruana last weekend.
Alex, 17, wrote a letter to his mum explaining his reasons for leaving, before she subsequently fled the home near Chalabre in the Aude on Friday, December 15 with a friend. The Mirror understands Melanie Batty took her pet cat with her and wrote in an email: "I’m so sorry but we had to leave in the middle of the night. I expect you’ve seen the news by now."
Melanie Batty is said to have upped and left the rented home in Southern France where she was staying with son Alex (The Daily Mirror)Alex was reported missing in 2017 when he went on a planned holiday in Spain with Melanie and grandfather, David Batty, when he was 11. Since then, the three are thought to have travelled to Morocco and France living a hippy lifestyle.
The teen left on Monday, December 11 with a plan to finish his education in the UK. Landlord Tony Smith, who knew Melanie as 'Rose' and Alex and 'Zack, said "she must have just thought the game was up". The 81-year-old told The Sun: "She left a lot of personal things and I think that’s why she is holding on to them — so she can come back and get her stuff."
Missing British boy who vanished in Spain 6 years ago found alive in France
He added: “She wants to come back. I’m sure. She was very well-liked.” Speaking to the paper earlier this week, Alex told how he loved his mother - who was not his legal guardian - saying she was a "great person" but not necessarily a good mother. Greater Manchester Police is continuing to investigate the case.