Alex Batty, who was taken from the UK by his mother in 2017 and discovered six years later in the French Pyrenees, has opened up about his life on the run in a new BBC documentary. Now 20, he shares his story for the first time in 'Kidnapped By My Mum,' revealing the ideology that kept him hidden and the complex relationship with his mother.
The Disappearance
In September 2017, Alex was taken out of the UK by his mother Melanie and grandfather David, who lacked legal custody. At the time, Alex had been living with his grandmother Susan Caruna for two years. Susan recalled: 'Alex had been living with me two years. Melanie came here and asked if they could go on holiday. Alex was jumping up and down 'please grandma, please grandma, please let me go' and I ended up saying yeah.'
Reflecting on that decision, Susan said: 'Do you know, it's funny, it was like they put a spell on me. It was like they made me say 'yes you can go'. I can't explain why I said yes.' On the day Alex was due to return, Susan received a video from Melanie. In the clip, Alex appeared to read a scripted message: 'It upsets me to tell you the truth because I don't like hurting your feelings. I want to live with my mummy and grandad. It is one million times better. Stealing me from your daughter is soulless, it is not nice. If you are not selfish and want the best for me then please do not get anybody to look for us. Look into your heart and think what I want. Again, think what I want, not you want. Goodbye.' After that, all communication ceased.
Life on the Run
For six years, Alex lived completely off-grid, avoiding bank accounts, passports, and any traceable identity. The trio moved between campsites and remote locations in France. In the documentary, Alex recalled a period in 2022 when he spent nearly a year living with his mum and grandad at a campsite. 'We were always trying to be tight with money. I used to eat one meal a day. Just pasta and sauce on its own for lord knows how long,' he said.
Alex described the ideological pressure he faced: 'My mum would tell me constantly, 'you need to do spiritual work', 'you need to do inner work', but when I was 15, I started really thinking for myself. So, I'd try and find my own answers and when I did, if they differed in any way it would start a row. It was constant battles, constant arguments, constant yelling. So, she kicked me out of her campervan.' He added: 'I was living in a tent for a few months whilst my mum had this really nice warm campervan next to me. It was wintertime, raining, it was wet, it was cold all the time, and my mum was living in this campervan with heating, water and electric, and would rather me sleep outside in a tent.'
Missed Rescue Opportunities
The documentary reveals several missed chances to rescue Alex. Campsite owners Angelique and Serena allowed the family to stay without valid identification. Angelique said: 'His mum said they had lost them. And there were complications. They had to hide because they were in danger. I have a heart, so I accepted.' When Alex asked if they knew his real identity, Angelique replied: 'No, not at all, sorry. We would have called the police. Besides, I regret not doing it.'
Serena witnessed Alex sleeping in a small tent throughout the freezing winter months from September to March. She said: 'She decided to make you sleep outside in winter. It was very cold, in a small tent... And then she left you like that to punish you. And so, then I thought it was a bit of abuse. I thought she was really not a responsible mum. And so, I called social services, except they told me that you were a foreigner and as I did not have your true identity, they couldn't do anything.' France Enfance Protégée declined to comment on the case due to confidentiality.
A Turning Point
After a harsh winter, Alex, his mum, and grandad moved in with Ingrid and Fred, who ran a B&B. Ingrid recalled the moment she realised Alex craved education: 'One time I was going to the shop without him, and he said 'oh please can you buy me a notebook with lines or squares...' And I said 'oh you want a notebook?'. He said 'yeah, I want a school notebook like you use at school.' He said: 'I want to study online. I want to try to catch up. I want to be able to go back to school.' That's how I got aware that actually he was not so happy about being in this remote life.' Ingrid took Alex to Ecole 42, a coding college in Perpignan.
Marie, a staff member at Ecole 42, said Alex initially gave a false name, Zach Edwards, before eventually revealing his real identity. 'As soon as they left, I told my colleague, how weird was it that he gave us a false name. So, we first look up Zach Edwards. There was nothing. And then he typed Alex Batty, and then we saw all the articles with a photo of him from 10 years ago and for us it was the same person. We have to do something, because potentially he is in danger.' The college director alerted the police, who visited Ingrid and Fred's residence under the pretence of searching for a missing vehicle. Alex recalled: 'I was doing some cleaning, I was sweeping up and these two policemen came walking down and my heart's pounding because of that and it all started rushing in my head, like no way this is happening.' After a short conversation, the officers left. Alex said: 'I thought they'd come to take me away and honestly, I was nervous. I was relieved when they told me about a stolen car, but also, I was devastated. I could have said something there and then, but I didn't because protecting my mum and grandad, them not going to prison, was at the forefront of my mind.'
Escape and Aftermath
In 2023, Alex made his escape, trekking for hours along dark mountain roads in the French Pyrenees before stopping a passing motorist and declaring 'I've been kidnapped.' Since returning to the UK, he has completed his Maths and English GCSEs and is seeking employment. In January 2026, Alex welcomed a baby daughter.
Relationship with His Mother
Reflecting on his current relationship with his mother, Alex said: 'My relationship with my mum is such a complicated thing. 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. Hopefully one day I'll be able to get to the point where I can go and see them and have an enjoyable time rather than have my mum push things down my throat like she used to do.'
Greater Manchester Police launched a criminal probe into alleged child abduction but shelved it in 2025, citing lack of family support and 'no realistic chance of prosecution.' Alex's mother Melanie and grandfather David were approached for comment but did not respond.
'Kidnapped By My Mum' airs on BBC Three at 9pm and BBC One at 10.40pm on Wednesday, May 13, and is available on BBC iPlayer.
