A young British man who disappeared six years ago and who unexpectedly appeared in France a few days ago has returned to Great Britain.
Alex Batty, 17, flew from Toulouse via Amsterdam to London yesterday, British police said. He was accompanied by British police officers and a family member, according to Matt Boyle of Manchester police.
Back to Grandma
The priority now is to ensure the well-being of Batty and his family and their “reintegration into society as quickly as possible”. The teenager must be questioned at the appropriate time about the circumstances of his disappearance. These interviews would be a “difficult process” for the young man, the police spokesperson said.
Batty must return to his maternal grandmother, who was given custody of him before his mother stopped bringing him back six years ago after a vacation with his grandfather.
At the end of the holiday, the grandmother received a video in which her daughter told her that she would not return to the UK. Since then, the three have not been tracked.
Supplier found guys
According to reports in the French newspaper Depeche du Midi, the three joined a group of dropouts who lived in tents, caravans or huts in the Pyrenees.
A few days ago, a French delivery man spotted the teenager walking alone in the rain with a flashlight and a skateboard. He offered to take him to the next town and learned its history along the way.
Accidini searched the teenager's name online and discovered that he had been missing for years.