The British teenager who went missing abroad six years ago has sent a message to his mother, admitting that she's 'not a great mum'.
Alex Batty, from Oldham, Greater Manchester, was just 11 when he went missing on holiday in Spain back in October 2017 with his mother Melanie, then 37, and grandfather David Batty, who was 58.
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Now six years later, the 17-year-old has finally been found and opened up about his escape from his remote life and his thoughts about his mum.
Mum Melanie and David had been prohibited from being with Alex at the time because of domestic difficulties and were due to return after two weeks but never came back.
However, Alex was finally found alive and well after turning up alone in Revel, near Toulouse, France, last week.
The teen said: "She’s a great person and I love her but she’s just not a great mum."
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Talking about his escape to The Sun, the Brit recalled: "I first started thinking about leaving when I was 14 or 15.
"I realised it wasn’t a great way to live for my future. The cloud had lifted because I started weighing everything up again — the pros and cons of England.
"I wouldn’t know what was going to happen in my future if I were to stay with my mum, but from the past few years I could get a picture of what life would have been like.
"Moving around. No friends, no social life. Working, working, work and not studying. That’s the life I imagined I would be leading if I were to stay with my mum."
He continued: "It would always be the same whether it was France or Spain. In the mountains, in the middle of nowhere. No people my age.
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"So when I was about 16 I spoke to grandad about going back to England."
According to Alex, his mum was 'against the idea', adding: "She was very anti-government, anti-vax.
"She was worried that if I were to go back to a country and get my ID I would be put into care. Her catchphrase was becoming a 'slave to the system'.
"She wasn’t really open to any other opinions whereas grandad is more of a listener. He was always like, 'I want you to do what’s best for you'.
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"He kept on saying every time, the reason I came with you, is so that I could make sure that you were happy and healthy with a roof over your head."
Earlier this month (11 December 11) at around midnight, Alex left the farmhouse that he and his mum were staying on and was picked up by a delivery driver which started the process of reconnecting him with his grandma at long last.
Featured Image Credit: Greater Manchester Police/PA Wire