Alex Batty, who was abducted by his mother at age 11 and taken to live abroad for six years, has spoken to her for the first time since returning to the UK. The 20-year-old shared his story in a new BBC documentary, Kidnapped By My Mum, which airs on Wednesday.
Batty disappeared from Oldham in 2017 after his mother, Melanie Batty, took him to Spain with his grandfather. He spent years living cut off from the world, often without basic amenities, before escaping in 2023 and walking across the Pyrenees, where he was found near Toulouse.
In the documentary, Batty retraces his journey and speaks to the people he encountered. He 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.'
He described living in a tent while his mother had a campervan, and constant arguments. One campsite owner said she called French social services but was told they could not act because Alex was foreign and his identity was unknown. Batty commented: 'You think that would make them want to come more.'
Since returning to the UK, Batty has passed his maths and English GCSEs and became a father in January. Greater Manchester Police discontinued the abduction investigation due to no realistic chance of prosecution. Batty hopes to someday rebuild his relationship with his mother and grandfather.
