GMP: Oldham boy Alex Batty’s mother ‘part of investigation’

According to French authorities, 17-year-old Alex, who has been missing for six years, was found on Wednesday (December 13) and last night spoke on a video call to his grandmother Susan Caruana.

At a press conference this morning, GMP assistant chief constable Chris Sykes read out a statement, before answering questions from gathered journalists.

The assistant chief constable admitted the force had ‘no detail’ of where Alex had been over the last six years, and confirmed that his mother, Melanie Batty, would form part of the police investigation.

Alex's mother is believed to have abducted him during a family holiday in Spain to live an ‘alternative’ lifestyle abroad.

Questioned by Oldham Times reporter Joe Yates about whether mum Melanie Batty and grandfather David Batty were suspects in Alex’s disappearance, Mr Sykes said he was ‘not going to answer’ the question.

Alex went missing in 2017 when he was aged just 11.

He was due to fly home from a holiday in Spain with his mother, who did not have parental guardianship, and grandfather but never returned.

At the time, the pair were wanted by Spanish authorities on suspicion of Alex’s abduction.

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GMP has ‘no detail of where he’s been’

The assistant chief constable was asked for details about where Alex had been, in a question from ITV’s Rachael Allison.

Mr Sykes said: “I’ve seen some of the media reports of where he may have been. That is at the heart of the investigation that we carried out.

“Clearly, we need to speak to Alex when it’s right to speak to Alex to establish the full facts.

“We have no detail of where he’s been, there’s lots of speculation; we want to speak to Alex.”

Boy’s mother ‘part of investigation’

Asked for an update on the search for Alex’s mother and grandfather, Mr Sykes said: “As part of the investigation we have a dedicated team working with the French authorities.

“It’s clear at the moment the priority is speaking to Alex and thinking about Alex’s safeguarding, Alex’s wellbeing and supporting his family here in Oldham, but obviously his mother is part of that conversation and investigation.”

Timeline for return to UK ‘over the next few days’

Mr Sykes was also asked about the timeline for Alex’s return to the UK in a question from the BBC’s Rowan Bridge.

He responded: “We’re working hard with the French authorities to bring Alex back as soon as possible.

“He’s getting well cared for by the French authorities at the moment there in Toulouse.

“We’re in close liaison with them and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and our priority is to get him back to the UK and get him back to his family in Oldham as soon as possible.

“I expect it to happen over the next few days.”

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Family ‘massively relieved’

Mr Sykes also gave an update on how Alex’s family were doing. Grandmother Susan Caruana had been long appealing for his return.

Asked how Alex and his grandmother were feeling, Mr Sykes said: “From what I’ve seen from the officers that have spoken to the grandmother, she has a whole host of emotions and feelings as you could imagine. Alex is getting looked after by the French authorities, they are safeguarding him there and looking after him really well.

“We’ve been in close liaison with them, and obviously our real concern is how we bring Alex back to the UK in a safe way to make sure we look after his wellbeing. The family here in Oldham, we’re in close liaison with those.

“They’re obviously massively relieved and a whole host of emotions are going through their mind at the moment as they come to terms with this good news.”

If you have a story, I cover the whole borough of Oldham. Please get in touch at jack.fifield@newsquest.co.uk or click to send me a message on WhatsApp or on Signal on 07517566383.