Police issue major update in Alex Batty disappearance case

The mother and grandfather of Alex Batty will not face criminal proceedings following his disappearance, police have confirmed.

Detectives say they have 'explored all possible lines of enquiry' but concluded there are 'insufficient grounds' to move towards a prosecution. They added it was 'the outcome Alex and his family wished for' but felt the case should be 'properly and thoroughly investigated."

Now 18, Alex from Oldham vanished after going on holiday to Spain with his mum and grandpa aged 11 in 2017. They embarked on an “alternative” nomadic lifestyle, regularly moving around Spain and France. The teenager fled in December 2023, six years after his initial disappearance, and was found after walking four days through France.

In the year since, he has returned to normal life in Oldham with his grandmother Susan Caruana, who was his legal guardian at the time of his disappearance in 2017.

Both have previously said they do not want to see his mum and grandpa jailed over the international child abduction probe.

Speaking to the Sunday Mirror, Alex said: “Mum did what she did out of love. It’s what she thought was best and that’s all you can really do, isn’t it? She and my grandad did it with the best intentions.

A statement from Greater Manchester Police said: "Today (January 22), we have officially closed the criminal investigation into the disappearance of Alex Batty from Oldham, between 30 September 2017 and 13 December 2023. Alex and his grandmother, Susan, have been informed.

"Since the investigation was launched just over a year ago, detectives in Oldham have explored all possible lines of enquiry, however we have concluded there is insufficient grounds to move forward with any criminal prosecution."

Detective