Mum didn't imprison me..I miss gran

Teen tells delivery driver who picked him up

- PAUL BYRNE

MISSING ALEX TURNS UP IN FRANCE

ON a rainy night on an isolated road near to the French Pyrenees, van driver Fabien Accidini spotted a young man trudging along, soaked, wearing a backpack and carrying a skateboard under his arm.

Fabien, a student doing part-time work as a delivery driver, stopped and offered the lonely hiker a lift.

And in the next three hours he listened as the teenager, who turned out to be the missing Brit Alex Batty, told the incredible story of how he was "kidnapped" by his mother six years ago to live an alternative lifestyle.

Fabien said: "He lived with his mother in a spiritual community, far away from normal life. Alex told me his mother was a little crazy, but she never imprisoned him. He could leave if he wanted. He had no animosity towards her, but really wanted to find his grandmother. He missed his loved ones." 

Alex was 11 and living with his gran Susan Caruana, who was also his legal guardian, in Oldham, Gtr Manchester, when he went missing in October 2017.

He had gone on a pre-arranged weeklong holiday to Benahavis, near Marbella, with his mother Melanie Batty, 43, who had been living in Spain and did not have legal parental guardianship, and his grandfather David Batty, 64.

But they never returned and Ms. Caruana, 68, has spent the past six years desperate for news of her grandson.

Last night, she said: "I am so happy. I have spoken to him and he is well.

"He is currently with the authorities in France. It is great news. I am just waiting for him to come home - I am thrilled."