How was Alex Batty found and were any arrests made?

by

In a new documentary called Kidnapped by My Mum, Alex Batty shares his story for the very first time.

This documentary follows the path of Alex’s disappearance through Spain and France, revealing both where he was hidden and the ideas that allowed his captors to keep him there.

Through interviews with Alex, his grandmother, and the detectives involved in the search, the story explores Alex’s complex feelings about his mother, revealing a deeper issue than just being lost.

Here’s the story of Alex Batty, including details about his disappearance and how he was found after being missing for six years.

Who is Alex Batty?

Alex Batty is a 20-year-old man who went missing when he was 11 years old.

Alex, born in 2006, grew up in Manchester with his mother, Melanie, and his grandmother. Eventually, his grandmother became his legal guardian.

When did Alex Batty go missing?

In 2017, Alex went on a trip to Spain with his mother, Melanie, and grandfather, David, expecting it to be a relaxing vacation.

Melanie and David weren’t Alex’s legal guardians, and they were supposed to return him to his grandmother after a week, but he vanished before they could.

Alex was last spotted at the Malaga harbor on the day he was scheduled to travel back to the UK. Authorities initially investigated his disappearance as a possible kidnapping.

For the next six years, Alex, his mother, and grandfather lived a nomadic life, traveling through Spain and France in caravans and communal living spaces. They frequently connected with people who were interested in spirituality.

How was Alex Batty found?

After walking for four days, Alex was discovered by a delivery driver in the very early morning. He was walking beside the road around 3am, and had a backpack, flashlight, and skateboard with him.

The driver reported to authorities that Alex said he’d been avoiding capture by sleeping during the day and traveling at night. He explained he was getting by by foraging for food in fields and gardens.

Alex explained that they spent a lot of time living in caravans and remote houses, often hours from the nearest town. “I just reached a point where I couldn’t do it anymore,” he shared on Good Morning Britain.

I realized they had prepared to leave our location, and if I left too, they would have taken everything before the police got there.

Alex came back to the UK in December 2023, and just a week later, the Greater Manchester Police announced they were investigating his disappearance as a crime.

Were any arrests made in the investigation into Alex Batty’s disappearance?

In 2025, Greater Manchester Police announced they had ended their criminal investigation into the disappearance of Alex Batty.

According to BBC News, Greater Manchester Police ended their investigation into a child abduction case because the family involved didn’t want to pursue it, and there wasn’t enough evidence to successfully prosecute anyone.

Alex had previously explained his delay in returning home, saying he was worried his mother and grandfather would be arrested. His grandmother shared the same concern, not wanting to see them go to prison.

Detective Superintendent Matt Walker stated that resolving this case and bringing peace to Alex and his family was the most important thing, as that’s what they wanted.

Melanie Batty and David Batty were not charged in relation to the alleged abduction.

In the documentary, Melanie chose not to address the claims against her, and David didn’t offer any response.

You can watch ‘Kidnapped by My Mum’ on BBC Three starting Wednesday, May 13th at 9pm. It’s also available to stream right now on BBC iPlayer.

Authors

Katelyn MensahSenior Entertainment Writer

Katelyn Mensah writes about entertainment for TopMob, covering everything from popular TV shows and reality competitions to important documentaries. Before joining TopMob, she worked at The Tab, where she focused on reality TV and celebrity news. Katelyn has a degree in Journalism.

  • Visit us on Twitter

Read More

2026-05-13 19:42