‘He gave me his real identity before telling me his story’
Manchester Evening News|December 15, 2023
MYSTERY HITCHHIKER TELLS TRUCKER IN FRANCE HE IS MISSING BOY FROM OLDHAM
JOSEPH TIMAN
‘He gave me his real identity before telling me his story’

ALEX Batty was just 11 when he went to Spain with his mum and grandad.

But the boy from Oldham never came back.

His mother Melanie and grandad David were due to fly back with him on October 8, 2017. On the day they were due to return, Alex’s grandmother Susan Caruana – who is his legal guardian – received a video on Facebook which showed the trio reading from a script.

Despite extensive enquiries by police and various international public appeals over the last six years, Susan has not seen any of them since. Alex’s mother – who is not his legal guardian – and his grandad are both wanted by police in connection with his abduction. But now there has been a breakthrough.

Greater Manchester Police revealed yesterday that they were made aware of a ‘possible sighting’ of Alex, now aged 17, after a young man matching his description was found in the south of France.

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