- READ MORE: Alex Batty breaks silence in first interview since return from France
‘Abducted’ British teenager Alex Batty has spent his first Christmas at home in six years, after his shocking return to the UK this month.
The 17-year-old was 11 when he went missing in Spain in 2017 and had been reportedly living an itinerant lifestyle with his mother.
He made his escape this month in the dead of night because he wanted to lead a normal life after six years of wandering across Europe.
He spent his first Christmas in six years with his grandmother, Susan Cuarana, yesterday who told The Sun it was the ‘best Christmas ever’.
The 68-year-old is Alex’s legal guardian but his mother Melanie and grandfather David took him to Spain six years ago and never returned.
Alex Batty, 17, pictured cycling in France. He has spent his first Christmas in six years back at home with his grandmother
Alex received 24 bottles of his favourite fizzy drink, as well as a new phone and football tickets for Christmas
It was reported in The Sun that Alex was thrilled to get 24 cans of his favourite fizzy drink – Irn Bru – for Christmas, as well as a new phone, headphones, an Alexa device and tickets to see Manchester United vs Aston Villa.
Speaking about his favourite drink, he said: ‘I loved Irn-Bru when I was little and used to get some from the corner shop whenever I could. The same for Worcestershire sauce flavoured crisps.’
Ms Cuarana told The Sun she was gearing up for another heartbreaking Christmas without Alex, but to spend it with him was ‘absolutely amazing’.
Alex also said he loved his Christmas and is enjoying the ‘cold weather’ and ‘the rain’.
His mother and alleged kidnapper, 48-year-old Melanie Batty, remains on the run.
The 17-year-old was 11 when he went missing in Spain in 2017 and had been reportedly living an itinerant lifestyle with his mother
Alex, who never went to school while living with his mother, dreamed of becoming a software engineer
Alex, who never went to school while living with his mother, dreamed of becoming a software engineer.
He walked out on his mother and his grandfather after an argument.
The teenager escaped on Monday, December 11 at around midnight, when his mother was asleep in bed.
Carrying only a skateboard and a rucksack filled with clothes and essentials, he set off for the nearest city – Toulouse, 70 miles away.
He packed four T-shirts, three pairs of trousers, socks, pants, a torch, 100 euros and a Swiss Army Knife. He left a note for his mother telling her that he loved her.