A British boy who was believed to have been abducted six years ago has been found alive in France.
Alex Batty, from Oldham, Greater Manchester, was just 11 when he went missing in Spain in October 2017.
The boy went abroad was his mother Melanie Batty, then 37 - who was not his legal guardian - and grandfather David Batty, who was 58.
He flew on a pre-agreed trip with them to Malaga Airport for a week-long stay in the Benahavis area near Marbella.
Advert
However, they did not return to England as expected on 8 October 2017.
Police have since made extensive inquiries and believe that the family left Benahavis and may have tried to head to Melilla in Morocco from the Port of Malaga.
In 2019, officers believed that Alex was still with his mother and grandfather, who are both wanted in connection with his abduction.
The boy's grandmother and guardian said in 2018: "I got this message on Facebook and it was a YouTube video of the three of them.
"They all spoke on it and Melanie said the reasons why they had done what they had done.
"Alex said it was a million times better being with his mum and granddad. Obviously it hurt a bit but then my other concerns kicked in.
"The reason I believe they have done this is because basically my lifestyle, my belief systems, are not what they agree with - just simply living day to day, how normal people do.
"They didn't want him to go to school, they don't believe in mainstream school."
Detective Sergeant Pete Morley said at the time: "His grandmother Susan is beside herself with worry. She's gone from seeing Alex every day to not hearing off him for months.
"She misses him terribly and is desperate to know he is alright."
However, newspaper La Depeche provided a big update on Thursday.
They said: "Although he did not show any official document to the gendarmes who took him in, this young 17-year-old boy provided his identity on his own.
"His face and his story correspond in every way to that of the Briton kidnapped in 2017.
"This Thursday the Toulouse public prosecutor confirmed that it is indeed Alex Batty.
"His story has been verified and appears to correspond to reality.
"Following this hearing, the teenager was entrusted to the department's social services, while waiting for his relatives to come forward."
LADbible has contacted GMP for comment.
Anish Vij