Beaming Alex Batty returns to education for first time since going missing in 2017 as he starts college after UK return
HOME-again teen Alex Batty starts college today — and cannot wait to begin.
He will attend an educational institution for the first time since his mum and grandad took him to Spain aged 11 in 2017 and never came back.
Alex, who wants to study computer science at university, said: “Going to college and getting a proper education is my biggest dream.
“It’s going to feel like the first day of the rest of my life.
“I am really motivated and want to get cracking and get some qualifications as quickly as I can.
“I can’t wait to get started.”
Alex, 17, spent six years moving around remote villages in Spain and France and had to work to earn food and accommodation rather than pursue his love of learning.
He never attended a single day of college but instead relied on reading the Harry Potter books over and over again and tried to teach himself maths along the way.
But he returned home after leaving his mum’s rented property in the dead of night in December.
He was taken to a police station and then flown back to Manchester on December 16 for an emotional reunion with his gran Susan, 68, and her partner Leli in Oldham.
Alex will now undergo assessments at Oldham College before starting a number of courses.
Mum Melanie, 43, and grandad David, 58, are believed to be on the run in France.
Detectives are investigating a possible abduction case.
How hol turned to getaway
ALEX Batty left England for a week’s holiday with his mum and grandad – and came back 2,269 days later.
Here’s how it happened:
SEPT 30, 2017: flew to Malaga and stayed in a luxury Marbella villa owned by a friend of Melanie’s.
OCT 7: trio hitched a ride 400 miles north to Benifairo de la Valldigna, near Valencia. They settle by Gandia.
AUTUMN 2021: they drive a campervan to France with no ID.
Alex and David stay at Gite de La Bastide, 25 miles east of Quillan. Melanie lives at a Camon site about an hour’s drive away.
DECEMBER: Alex and David join Melanie.
JANUARY 2022: they move to a campsite in Balesta.
MAY-SEPT 2023: in Montbel but Melanie also travels around France, leaving Alex with his grandad.
OCT: move to the Garden of Eden site near Villefort.
DEC 11: Alex walks out of a rented house they are staying in near Chalabre, leaving a goodbye note.
DEC 13: he is picked up at 3am walking along a road near the Ariege La Pibola campsite.
DEC 16: Alex returns to his gran’s home in Oldham.