The investigation into the alleged abduction of Alex Batty, who returned to the UK after spending six years abroad, has been discontinued, West Midlands Police confirmed.
The probe into his disappearance between September 2017 and December 2023 has been officially concluded due to a lack of “realistic chance of criminal prosecution”.
Police confirmed that both Alex and his grandmother Susan Caruana, with whom he now lives in Oldham, have been informed of the decision.
The investigation’s closure comes after authorities determined that neither Alex nor his family would support prosecution in the case.
An image of Alex Batty since returning to the UKITVThe teenager is now safely living under the legal guardianship of his grandmother in Greater Manchester.
Alex Batty went missing at the age of 11 after his mother, who did not have legal guardianship, took him on what was meant to be a pre-arranged trip to Spain with his grandfather.
The boy remained missing for over six years, during which time he is believed to have lived a nomadic lifestyle across Spain, Morocco and France with his mother and grandfather.
His discovery came in December 2023 when a chiropody student found him near the French city of Toulouse after he had walked across the Pyrenees.
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Officers in the UK subsequently interviewed Alex upon his return from France, which led to the launch of a criminal investigation.
Detective Superintendent Matt Walker, who led the investigation, emphasised that Alex’s safety had been their primary concern since his discovery in France.
“In our commitment to protecting children, we felt it was important that the circumstances of Alex’s disappearance be properly and thoroughly investigated,” Walker said.
The investigation team consulted with various partners, including a complex case Crown Prosecution Service lawyer and the National Crime Agency, before reaching their conclusion.
Alex Batty went missing at the age of 11GMPWalker explained that closing the case was “the right thing to do” as it aligned with the wishes of Alex and his family.
“Alex is now an adult, safe, and reintegrated with life back in Greater Manchester surrounded by those who love him, which ultimately is the priority,” he added.
Alex had chosen to leave his mother in pursuit of a better future, telling The Sun newspaper she was “a great person but not a great mum”.
He described his mother as “anti-Government, anti-vax” and said her catchphrase was “becoming a slave to the system”.
The teenager revealed he had grown weary of his unconventional lifestyle, which left him with “no friends” and “no social life”.